Rita
2025 SSA
Below 5 births
About Rita
One of the glamour girl names of the Rita Hayworth 1940s, Rita was once a Top 50 name and stayed on the SSA list until 2002.
The name Rita still has enough Latin zip to be a lively, revivable short form of Margarita. Other namesakes include Puerto Rican actress/singer Rita Moreno (born Rosa), poet Rita Dove and novelist Rita Mae Brown. Rita Skeeter is a Harry Potter character.
In Indian religion and philosophy, Rita is the cosmic order mentioned in the Vedas.
Rita is also given to boys.
Pronounced REE-tuh.
As of October 2026, Rita ranked #1287 in US births in 2025 SSA, peaked at #42 in 1930, Nameberry popularity #578.
Popularity & trends
Data table
| Year | US rank · girls | Births · girls | US rank · boys | Births · boys |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | #1,366 | 171 | — | 0 |
| 2015 | #1,283 | 190 | — | 0 |
| 2016 | #1,189 | 210 | — | 0 |
| 2017 | #1,186 | 207 | — | 0 |
| 2018 | #1,254 | 185 | — | 0 |
| 2019 | #1,347 | 169 | — | 0 |
| 2020 | #1,234 | 185 | — | 0 |
| 2021 | #1,437 | 150 | — | 0 |
| 2022 | #1,323 | 178 | — | 0 |
| 2023 | #1,376 | 164 | — | 0 |
| 2024 | #1,404 | 159 | — | 0 |
| 2025 | #1,287 | 174 | — | 0 |
World rankings
Similar names
These 20 names were selected by our users looking for other names like Rita.
Rita on lists
Famous Ritas
- Saint Rita of CasciaGirl
Augustinian nun
- Rita of ArmeniaGirl
Empress consort of Michael IX Palaiologos of the Byzantine Empire
- Rita Hayworth (born Margarita Carmen Cansino)Girl
American actress
- Rita Dolores Moreno (born Rosa Dolores Alverío)Girl
Puerto Rican,American actress and singer
- Rita RudnerGirl
American comedienne
- Rita Sahatçiu OraGirl
British/Kosovare singer,songwriter
- Rita Antoinette Rizzo aka Mother AngelicaGirl
American founder of the EWTN TV network
- Rita Joanne SimonsGirl
English actress
- Rita TushinghamGirl
English actress
- Rita Volk (born Margarita Volkovinskaya)Girl
Uzbek,American actress
- Rita Wilson (born Margarita Ibrahimoff)Girl
American actress; wife of actor Tom Hanks
- Rita LeeGirl
Brazilian lead singer of rock band Os Mutantes
- Rita Frances DoveGirl
American poet
- Rita Mae BrownGirl
American novelist and activist
- Rita LeviGirl
Montalcini, Italian neurobiologist; winner of the Nobel Prize for Medicine
- Alpharita Constantia "Rita" MarleyGirl
Cuban,Jamaican singer; widow of singer Bob Marley
- Rita MacNeilGirl
Canadian country music singer
- Rita CoolidgeGirl
American singer,songwriter
Rita in pop culture
- Rita SkeeterGirl
character from the "Harry Potter" series
- Rita Rose VrataskiGirl
character in movie "Edge of Tomorrow"
- RitaGirl
character in the Divergent series
- Rita BennettGirl
character on TV's "Dexter"
- RitaGirl
Saluki dog in Disney's "Oliver & Company"
- Rita TannerGirl
character on British soap "Coronation Street"
- Rita MorrisGirl
character on British TV series "Single Father"
- Rita MasonGirl
character in "Does My Head Look Big in This?" by Randa Abdel,Fattah
- Rita NelsonGirl
character in video game "The Sims 3" Moonlight Bay
- Rita OrtizGirl
main character in "The Second Time We Met" by Leila Cobo
- Rita BarberGirl
character on TV's "American Gothic"
- Rita GeorgeGirl
character in the "St Clare" book series by Enid Blyton
- RitaGirl
singing cat in animated series "Animaniacs," partner of Runt
- Susan "Rita" WhiteGirl
character in film "Educating Rita"
- RitaGirl
character in 2002 film "Cypher"
- RitaGirl
roller coaster at Alton Towers
- RitaGirl
red fox in Danish animated series "Jungledyret Hugo"
- Rita MordioGirl
character in video game "Tales of Vesperia"
- Rita RepulsaGirl
main villain on TV's "Mighty Morphin Power Rangers"
- Rita StapletonGirl
character on American soap "The Guiding Light"
- Rita Louise WatsonGirl
main character in Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit
- Rita LoudGirl
character from the Nickelodeon show "The Loud House"
- Rita SantosGirl
character on TV's "Mako Mermaids"
- "Lovely RitaGirl
" song by The Beatles
- RitaGirl
character on "The Penumbra Podcast"