Rita

“Variant of Margaret — Pearl” — Ancient Greek, via Latin and Old French origin

Girl's name · #1287 in the US (2025) · Heirloom

Rita belongs to an older America first — it reached #42 back in 1930 — yet it still appears in today's records at #1287. About 284,000 girls have carried it since 1880. In all that time it has never once missed a year of the national records.

Around the world: #3 in Croatia (2025) · #73 in Bosnia (FBiH) (2024) · #83 in Poland (2025).

Appears in 2020-2025 birth records of 18 states. See the full state-by-state map on this page.

Famous Ritas

Rita Levi-Montalcini — Italian neurologist (1909–2012)
Rita Hayworth — American actress (1918–1987)
Rita Ora — English-Albanian singer and actress
Rita Moreno — Puerto Rican actress (born 1931)
Rita Wilson — American actress, singer and producer

In stories & tradition

Rita Skeeter — Harry Potter · Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
Rita Bennett — Dexter
Rita Repulsa — Power Rangers

What Ritas become

Among 2,080 notable people named Rita:

Entertainers appear 1.54× more often than among typical names — e.g. Rita Hayworth, American actress (1918–1987).

Similar names: Greta · Norma · Rhythm · Anita · Marjorie · Martha

Browse more girl names — popularity, trends and eras for 5,700+ American names, free.

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