The baby name Rita fits with stylish favorites now, like Sophia and Eva, but remains surprising rare.

Thanks to Kate for suggesting our Baby Name of the Day.

WHAT DOES THE NAME RITA MEAN?

Meaning presents a challenge with a name like Rita. Why? It started out as a short form of longer names.

If we consider Rita a nickname for the Latin and Spanish Margarita, then it shares the same meaning as the first name Margaret: pearl. 

That’s because Margaret ultimately comes from the Greek margaritesmeaning pearl. 

But other origins and meanings are possible, including:

  • Hindi name Amrita comes from a Sanskrit word meaning “immortal”
  • Dorita sounds like a snack, but it’s an elaboration of Dora, meaning “gift”
  • Sarita, an elaboration of Sara heard in Spain and Italy. It can also be a Sanskrit name meaning “flowing” 

A handful of sources suggest that Rita might be Persian. It’s possible, with names like Anahita and Vida in use. 

But the name is also given independently, and has been for years. That might have more to do with a saint.  

SAINT RITA

The future Saint Rita started out life as Margherita Lotti in late 14th century Cascia, Italy. 

Like so many well-born young women, Rita was married at a very young age. Accounts tell us that her wealthy new husband abused and insulted Rita. Despite his harsh treatment, she was widely admired in her community. 

For years, her husband’s family, the Mancinis, feuded with the rival Chiqui family. Rita’s intervention helped end the roiling dispute, but only after it had claimed the life of her husband.

As a widow, Rita entered a religious order, becoming an Augustinian nun.

Canonized in the year 1900, Saint Rita is considered a patron saint of impossible causes. 

The saint might explain why there have always been a handful of girls given the baby name Rita. 

RITA HAYWORTH & MORE

The most famous bearer of the name might be American actress and dancer Rita Hayworth.

Born Margarita Cansino, she rose to fame during the 1940s. Glamorous Rita was nicknamed “The Love Goddess,” but she wasn’t just a World War II pin-up girl. She’s widely considered one of the leading women of her era, remembered for movies like 1946’s Gilda and 1944’s Cover Girl, to name just two. 

Other celebrities sharing her name include Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony award-winning Rita Moreno, who has appeared in movies from West Side Story to Fast X.  

A few more high-profile uses of the name include:

  • Italian singer Rita Pavone made her mark during the 1960s
  • British singer Rita Ora
  • Actress and producer Rita Wilson

There’s a Donizetti opera called Rita, too, but when it comes to music, a different song might be top of mind.

LOVELY RITA 

The Beatles’ 1967 song “Lovely Rita,” appears on Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.

All these years later, the album is widely considered a masterwork. 

The quirky song was inspired by the phrase “meter maid,” used in the US but not the UK. Paul McCartney heard it and imagined the story from there

In terms of popularity, the baby name Rita appeared in the Top 1000 popular baby girl names from 1880, when the list first debuted, until 2002.

In fact, from 1914 through 1960, Rita appeared in the US Top 1000, with a peak rank of #42 in 1930.

That means two things: first, Rita’s popularity predates the rise of Hayworth. Secondly, it was a very mainstream choice for generations. 

At peak popularity, variations like Reta and Reita were also in use.

As of today, though, the name is all but lost. 159 girls received the baby name Rita in 2024. That’s the lowest number since the turn of the 20th century. 

Also noteworthy: while Margarita might be the Spanish form of Margaret, it’s so strongly associated with the drink that it has fallen sharply out of use as a given name. That means that the more obvious formal name for Rita is even more rare. 

ROMANTIC RITA

Overall, the baby name Rita is a romance language rarity that feels at home in Spanish and Italian, but has yet to be rediscovered. 

It feels like a promising possibility, though. Brief and compact, with centuries of history behind it, and a strong, distinctive sound.

If you’re crushed that Sofia and Mila rank in the current US Top 100, or want a culture-spanning choice in the key of Clara and Lea/Lia, then the baby name Rita might be the perfect choice. 

What do you think of the baby name Rita?

young girl wearing straw hat with polka dot ribbon and white dress, drinking from a glass, holding a camera in her other hand, baby name Rita
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About Abby Sandel

Whether you're naming a baby, or just all about names, you've come to the right place! Appellation Mountain is a haven for lovers of obscure gems and enduring classics alike.

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