Rita
How to say it: REE-tuh · /ˈritə/
Short form of Margarita/Margherita (pearl); also echoes Sanskrit rita meaning 'order, truth'.
Rita was the 1,076th most popular girls’ name in the United States in 2025, given to 174 babies (Social Security Administration). Its busiest decade was the 1920s, its births are down about 8% in ten years, and it is projected to slip to #1,110 by 2030.
Updated · SSA 2025 data, published May 2026 · Insee 2025 data, published July 2026 · How we compute these figures
Key facts
| Rank among girls’ names, 2025 | #1,076 |
|---|---|
| Babies born in 2025 | 174 |
| Share of births | 1 in 19,053 |
| Peak decade | 1920s |
| Change over 10 years | −8% |
| Projected rank for 2030 (estimate) | #1,110 |
| In France, 2025 | #281 among girls’ names, 200 births |
Sources: Social Security Administration (SSA), Insee (France). How we compute these figures.
Its life, decade by decade
Since its high in the 1920s, Rita has faded far below peak and keeps getting rarer. Continued slipping appears likely for the future.
What goes with it
Light and crisp with soft tones, Rita travels well and recalls a saintly namesake. Rosa would suit as a sister.
Nicknames
- Rit
Honouring a Rita in the family
In the classroom
In a class of 25 children born in 2025, the chance that another child is called Rita is about under 1 in 200.
Around the world
This spelling is used in Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hindi, Italian, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Spanish, Swedish.
In France: #281 for girls in 2025.
Famous people named Rita
- Rita Ora (born 1990)English-Albanian singer and actress
- Rita Levi-Montalcini (1909–2012)Italian neurologist
- Rita Wilson (born 1956)American actress, singer and producer
From Wikidata and Wikipedia
Good to know
- Retired Atlantic hurricane name: Category 5 Hurricane Rita (Sept 18-26, 2005), ~120 deaths, $18.5B damage
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