Charlotte Girl
SHAHR-luht
“free man” · French
#2
Bonita
GirlSpanish, Latin· “pretty”
- Meaning
- pretty
- Origin
- Spanish, Latin
- Pronunciation
- boh-NEE-tuh
- Syllables
- 3
- US rank 2025
- #8,957
- US babies 2025
- 11
- Best rank
- #181 (1950)
- Peak year
- 1950
Meaning and origin of Bonita
Bonita is a Spanish and Latin name that means “pretty”.
Bonita is a Spanish word meaning pretty, the feminine diminutive of bueno, good, from the Latin bonus. It has been used as a given name in the US since the early twentieth century, often without any Spanish family connection. Bonita is also a place name in several parts of the US and a type of fish. It is said boh-NEE-tuh, with the stress on the second syllable. Bonnie and Nita are easy nicknames. The meaning is simple and sweet.
Popularity over time
Bonita first appears in US Social Security records in 1888. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 74 different years, starting in 1903. Its best national rank was #181 in 1950, the same year it reached its highest count of 1,528 babies. In 2025, 11 babies were named Bonita, and it ranked #8,957 nationally. That is 27% fewer than ten years earlier, so it is becoming less common.
Its national rank moved from #608 in 1920, #181 in 1950, #1,111 in 1980, #6,253 in 2000, #6,421 in 2010, and #8,957 in 2025. Of the 37,842 US girls named Bonita since records began, 32% were born in the 1950s, its biggest decade. The 1940s come next, with 10,405 babies. Since 2010, 235 more have been named Bonita.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Jacquelyn, Francine, Susanne, Glenna, and Gayle.
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for girls.
Bonita is usually pronounced boh-NEE-tuh, with three syllables. It has six letters, starts with B and ends in “-ta”.
Middle names for Bonita
A few middle names that flow with Bonita: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Bonita
Similar names
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Lists that include Bonita
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Bonita mean?
Bonita is a Spanish and Latin name that means “pretty”.
What is the origin of the name Bonita?
Bonita has Spanish and Latin roots. Bonita is a Spanish word meaning pretty, the feminine diminutive of bueno, good, from the Latin bonus.
Is Bonita a popular name?
Not especially. Bonita ranked #8,957 in the US in 2025, which puts it outside the top 1,000.
Is Bonita a boy or girl name?
Bonita is mainly a girl's name. In the US it is used almost only for girls.
How do you pronounce Bonita?
Bonita is usually pronounced boh-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