Charlotte Girl
SHAHR-luht
“free man” · French
#2
Anitra
GirlNorwegian, American (modern coinage)· “name created by Ibsen”
- Meaning
- name created by Ibsen
- Origin
- Norwegian, American (modern coinage)
- Pronunciation
- uh-NEE-truh
- Syllables
- 3
- US rank 2025
- Unranked
- US babies 2025
- 0
- Best rank
- #355 (1976)
- Peak year
- 1976
Meaning and origin of Anitra
Anitra is a Norwegian and American (modern coinage) name that is usually said to mean “name created by Ibsen”.
Anitra is a name created by the Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen for the Arab dancer in his verse drama Peer Gynt. The name became widely known through Anitra's Dance, part of the incidental music Edvard Grieg wrote for the play. Ibsen did not explain the name, and it may have been shaped from Anita. It came into occasional American use in the twentieth century. It is said uh-NEE-truh. Nita and Ani are possible nicknames. Anitra has an exotic, musical quality, and its literary and musical background gives it a distinctive story.
Popularity over time
Anitra first appears in US Social Security records in 1923. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 7 different years, starting in 1973. Its best national rank was #355 in 1976, the same year it reached its highest count of 596 babies. It did not appear in the 2025 data, which only lists names given to at least five babies.
Its national rank moved from #3,436 in 1950, #1,161 in 1980, #5,725 in 2000, and #15,125 in 2010. Of the 4,379 US girls named Anitra since records began, 57% were born in the 1970s, its biggest decade. The 1980s come next, with 735 babies. Since 2010, 25 more have been named Anitra.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Lawanda, Cari, Misti, Lashonda, and Karrie.
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for girls.
Anitra is usually pronounced uh-NEE-truh, with three syllables. It has six letters, starts with A and ends in “-ra”.
Middle names for Anitra
A few middle names that flow with Anitra: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Anitra
Similar names
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Lists that include Anitra
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Anitra mean?
Anitra is a Norwegian and American (modern coinage) name that is usually said to mean “name created by Ibsen”.
What is the origin of the name Anitra?
Anitra has Norwegian and modern American roots. Anitra is a name created by the Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen for the Arab dancer in his verse drama Peer Gynt.
Is Anitra a popular name?
No. Anitra was not recorded for five or more babies of its most common sex in 2025, so it is rare today.
Is Anitra a boy or girl name?
Anitra is mainly a girl's name. In the US it is used almost only for girls.
How do you pronounce Anitra?
Anitra is usually pronounced uh-NEE-truh. 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