Girl name · Greek
Rita
Name meaning, origin and popularity
: a pearlRita is a girl's name that comes from Greek and means "a pearl". It is used in Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, English and Russian.
- Meaning
- A pearl
- Origin
- Greek
- Gender
- Girl
- Say it
- REE-tah (Italian)
Meaning and origin of Rita
As a girl's name, Rita comes from Greek and means "a pearl". It is used in Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, English and Russian.
In Italian, say REE-tah. Respellings are a guide; accents vary by region.
Meanings come from published name dictionaries, led by Behind the Name. How we research names
Rita on Nomezo lists
What our editors wrote about Rita on 4 lists.
“A pearl; Greek. Saint of Cascia. Say REE-tah”
From Italian girl names, italian saints' names for girls
“After Hollywood legend Hayworth and her famous red hair”
From Orange cat names, famous orange cats and redheads
“Short for Margarita: pearl; Greek”
From Russian girl names, russian nicknames that work as names
“A pearl; Greek. Short form of Margherita”
From Vintage girl names, 1930s to 1950s girl names
How popular is Rita?
- US rank in 2025
- #1,287
- 174 babies, 108 per million girls
- Best rank
- #42 in 1930
- Most babies: 6,653 in 1949
- Babies since 1880
- At least 284,452
- Years with under 5 are not listed
| 1880s | 248 per million |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 463 per million |
| 1900s | 680 per million |
| 1910s | 2,924 per million |
| 1920s | 4,232 per million |
| 1930s | 3,633 per million |
| 1940s | 3,442 per million |
| 1950s | 3,133 per million |
| 1960s | 1,800 per million |
| 1970s | 683 per million |
| 1980s | 358 per million |
| 1990s | 179 per million |
| 2000s | 117 per million |
| 2010s | 104 per million |
| 2020s | 104 per million |
| Year | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #1,190 | #1,186 | #1,254 | #1,348 | #1,234 | #1,437 | #1,323 | #1,376 | #1,397 | #1,287 |
Source: US Social Security Administration baby-name data, 1880 to 2025, as published in 2026. Each spelling is counted separately, a name given to fewer than 5 babies of one sex in a year is left out, and few people born before 1937 have records, which is why the chart shows babies per million rather than raw counts.
Other forms of Rita
The same name in other languages and spellings, with the same meaning and origin.
- GretaA pearl (Greek, girl)
- MairéadA pearl (Greek, girl)
- MaisieA pearl (Greek, girl)
- MaredA pearl (Greek, girl)
- MargaretA pearl (Greek, girl)
- MargaretaA pearl (Greek, girl)
- MargaridaA pearl (Greek, girl)
- MargaritaA pearl (Greek, girl)
- MargauxA pearl (Greek, girl)
- MargeryA pearl (Greek, girl)
- MargheritaA pearl (Greek, girl)
- MargotA pearl (Greek, girl)
Names spelled like Rita
One or two letters apart, but from a different root: they look alike without sharing a meaning.
Names with a similar meaning
Middle names for Rita
Picked from our middle-name lists with a different first letter and a longer length, so the full name flows.
More girl names from Greek
- AlexandraDefender of men (Greek, girl)
- ElenaForm of Helen, probably from Greek torch (Greek, girl)
- IrenePeace, tranquility (Greek, girl)
- IrisA rainbow (Greek, girl)
- SofiaWisdom, skill (Greek, girl)
- SophieWisdom, skill (Greek, girl)
- ZoeLife, living (Greek, girl)
- AnastasiaResurrection, rising again (Greek, girl)
- ChristinaFollower of Christ (Greek, girl)
- NicoleVictory of the people (Greek, girl)
Rita: common questions
What does the name Rita mean?
Rita comes from Greek and means "a pearl".
Is Rita a boy or girl name?
Rita is mainly a girl's name.
Where does the name Rita come from?
Rita comes from Greek and means "a pearl". Today it is used in Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, English and Russian.
How do you pronounce Rita?
In Italian, say REE-tah. Pronunciation can vary between languages and regions.
How popular is the name Rita?
Rita ranked #1,287 in the US in 2025, with 174 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
What are other forms of Rita?
Forms of Rita with the same meaning and origin include Greta (German), Mairéad (Irish), Maisie (Scottish), Mared (Welsh) and Margaret (English).
What middle names go with Rita?
Middle names that flow well with Rita include Belle, Celeste, Daphne, Elizabeth and Esmeralda. A different first letter and a contrasting length usually sound best.