Anita
Anita is a girl's name of Spanish origin.
Meaning
Grace or favor.
Origin and history
Anita originated as a Spanish diminutive of Ana, which derives from the Hebrew name Hannah meaning grace or favor. It gained widespread global popularity in the 20th century, including strong adoption in the United States. Today, it remains a classic, recognizable name though used less frequently for newborns.
Popularity in the United States
215,165 babies in the United States have been named Anita since 1880. It ranks #184 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #1255.
States where it is most popular
- CA (8.8 %)
- NY (8.6 %)
- TX (8.5 %)
- IL (5.5 %)
- PA (5.2 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 365 |
| 1890-1900 | 1,191 |
| 1900-1910 | 2,149 |
| 1910-1920 | 9,555 |
| 1920-1930 | 18,052 |
| 1930-1940 | 22,224 |
| 1940-1950 | 32,531 |
| 1950-1960 | 47,588 |
| 1960-1970 | 44,416 |
| 1970-1980 | 18,834 |
| 1980-1990 | 8,594 |
| 1990-2000 | 4,571 |
| 2000-2010 | 2,471 |
| 2010-2019 | 1,695 |
| 2020-2029 | 929 |
Famous people named Anita
- Anita Baker: Singer, Songwriter
- Anita Hill: Lawyer, Professor
- Anita Ekberg: Actress, Model
Nicknames
Nita, Ani
Fun facts
- Anita was originally created as a diminutive form of Ana using the Spanish suffix -ita.
- Anita peaked in U.S. popularity during the mid-20th century, becoming a classic American name.