Anita
Anita is a boy's name of Spanish origin.
Meaning
Grace, favor.
Origin and history
Anita originated as a Spanish diminutive of Ana, which derives from the Hebrew name Hannah meaning 'favor' or 'grace'. While historically and predominantly given to females, U.S. birth records show occasional historic usage as a male name. In the modern United States, it is extremely rare as a male given name.
Popularity in the United States
684 babies in the United States have been named Anita since 1880. It ranks #3992 all-time.
States where it is most popular
- TX (100 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 0 |
| 1890-1900 | 0 |
| 1900-1910 | 0 |
| 1910-1920 | 8 |
| 1920-1930 | 62 |
| 1930-1940 | 111 |
| 1940-1950 | 115 |
| 1950-1960 | 110 |
| 1960-1970 | 140 |
| 1970-1980 | 81 |
| 1980-1990 | 51 |
| 1990-2000 | 6 |
| 2000-2010 | 0 |
| 2010-2019 | 0 |
| 2020-2029 | 0 |
Fun facts
- Anita originally developed in Spanish and Italian as a hypocoristic or affectionate form of Ana.
- Although predominantly a female name worldwide, Anita was recorded as a given name for boys in early 20th-century U.S. census records.