Charlotte Girl
SHAHR-luht
“free man” · French
#2
Anita
GirlSpanish, Hebrew· “little Ana; grace”
- Meaning
- little Ana; grace
- Origin
- Spanish, Hebrew
- Pronunciation
- uh-NEE-tuh
- Syllables
- 3
- US rank 2025
- #1,342
- US babies 2025
- 165
- Best rank
- #77 (1963)
- Peak year
- 1957
Meaning and origin of Anita
Anita is a Spanish and Hebrew name that means “little Ana; grace”.
Anita is a Spanish and Portuguese diminutive of Ana, meaning "little Ana." Ana comes from Hannah, a Hebrew name meaning "grace" or "favor." Anita spread beyond the Spanish-speaking world in the twentieth century and became a familiar name across Europe and the Americas. Musical theater fans know Anita as the fiery friend of Maria in West Side Story, and the singer Anita Baker is another well-known bearer. The name has a warm, friendly sound, uh-NEE-tuh, and a classic mid-century feel. Nita and Ani are affectionate nicknames, and Anita remains easy to pronounce in many languages.
Popularity over time
Anita has been given to babies in the United States since at least 1880, the first year of Social Security records. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 125 different years. Its best national rank was #77 in 1963, and the most babies received it in 1957, when 5,811 were named Anita. In 2025, 165 babies were named Anita, and it ranked #1,342 nationally. Its use has been fairly steady over the past decade.
Its national rank moved from #131 in 1920, #99 in 1950, #223 in 1980, #736 in 2000, #1,349 in 2010, and #1,342 in 2025. Of the 215,165 US girls named Anita since records began, 22% were born in the 1950s, its biggest decade. The 1960s come next, with 44,416 babies. Since 2010, 2,624 more have been named Anita.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Leslie, Vickie, Maureen, Sheryl, and Wanda.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Anita ranked highest in Wisconsin, Oregon, and Washington.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| Wisconsin | #569 | 8 |
| Oregon | #635 | 5 |
| Washington | #685 | 9 |
| California | #970 | 28 |
| Pennsylvania | #1247 | 6 |
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for girls.
Anita is usually pronounced uh-NEE-tuh, with three syllables. It has five letters, starts with A and ends in “-ta”.
Middle names for Anita
A few middle names that flow with Anita: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Anita
Similar names
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wah-NEE-tuh
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suh-REE-tuh
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Lupita Girl
loo-PEE-tuh
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Jacinta Girl
juh-SIN-tuh
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mah-ree-EH-luh
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Rita Girl
REE-tuh
“pearl; short for Margarita” · Italian
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Dalila Girl
duh-LEE-luh
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Margarita Girl
mahr-guh-REE-tuh
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Susana Girl
soo-SAH-nuh
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Manuela Girl
mahn-WEH-luh
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Marta Girl
MAHR-tuh
“form of Martha, lady” · Spanish
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Lists that include Anita
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Anita mean?
Anita is a Spanish and Hebrew name that means “little Ana; grace”.
What is the origin of the name Anita?
Anita has Spanish and Hebrew roots. Anita is a Spanish and Portuguese diminutive of Ana, meaning "little Ana." Ana comes from Hannah, a Hebrew name meaning "grace" or "favor." Anita spread beyond the Spanish-speaking world in the twentieth century and became a familiar name across Europe and the Americas.
Is Anita a popular name?
Not especially. Anita ranked #1,342 in the US in 2025, which puts it outside the top 1,000.
Is Anita a boy or girl name?
Anita is mainly a girl's name. In the US it is used almost only for girls.
How do you pronounce Anita?
Anita is usually pronounced uh-NEE-tuh. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings