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At a Glance
- Meaning
- A short form of Margaret (via Italian Margherita/Spanish Margarita), ultimately meaning 'pearl'
- Origin
- Italian/Spanish
- Gender
- Girl
- Pronunciation
- REE-tah
Rita grew out of Italian and Spanish tradition as a short form of Margaret, arriving through Margherita and Margarita — and through that lineage it carries the meaning 'pearl.' It's pronounced REE-tah, with an old-fashioned, generations-deep feel to it. If you're drawn to a name with real history behind it, Rita fits that description.
Meaning & Origin of Rita
Meaning: A short form of margaret (via italian margherita/spanish margarita), ultimately meaning 'pearl'.
Origin: Italian/Spanish.
Source: Wiktionary, Wikipedia.
How to Pronounce Rita
REE-tahIPA /ˈriːtə/
Popularity of Rita
Rita hit its high point in 1930, when 5,470 baby girls were given the name and it ranked #42 nationally; by 2024 that had fallen to #1404, with just 159 babies named Rita.
Names Like Rita Name Meaning, Origin & Popularity
Names with a similar style, era, origin or popularity history.
FAQ
What does the name Rita mean?
A short form of margaret (via italian margherita/spanish margarita), ultimately meaning ‘pearl’. (Source: Wiktionary)
How do you pronounce Rita?
Rita is pronounced REE-tah (IPA: /ˈriːtə/).
Is Rita a popular name right now?
Rita peaked at #42 in 1930 and is ranked #1404 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1880–2024.)
Make Rita Name Art
Free printable nursery art for Rita, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.
📊 How popular is Rita Name Meaning, Origin & Popularity? See the full popularity history, trend data, and ranking since 1880 with our free Baby Name Popularity Checker.
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