Rita

Meaning of Rita

Rita is often a shortened version of Margarita, which means "pearl."

Rita has Spanish roots — browse every Spanish baby name in our catalog.

Popularity of Rita

After ranking as high as #849 in 2001, Rita has fallen out of the US top 1,000 as of 2025.

Notable people named Rita

• Rita Hayworth
  Iconic American actress and dancer
• Rita Wilson
  American actress and producer
• Rita Moreno
  Puerto Rican actress, singer, dancer
• Rita Ora
  British singer and actress
• Rita Coolidge
  American singer and songwriter

More Spanish names

Questions about the name Rita

What does the name Rita mean?

Rita means rita is often a shortened version of margarita, which means "pearl.", and it comes from Spanish origins.

Is Rita a boy's or a girl's name?

Rita is most commonly used as a girl's name in the United States.

How popular is the name Rita?

Rita did not appear in the top 1,000 baby names in 2025, which makes it a genuinely uncommon pick.

When was Rita most popular?

Rita peaked at #849 in 2001.