Charlotte Girl
SHAHR-luht
“free man” · French
#2
Juanita
GirlSpanish, Hebrew· “God is gracious”
- Meaning
- God is gracious
- Origin
- Spanish, Hebrew
- Pronunciation
- wah-NEE-tuh
- Syllables
- 3
- US rank 2025
- #2,794
- US babies 2025
- 61
- Best rank
- #48 (1924)
- Peak year
- 1924
Meaning and origin of Juanita
Juanita is a Spanish and Hebrew name that means “God is gracious”.
Juanita is the Spanish diminutive of Juana, the feminine form of Juan, from the Hebrew Yochanan, meaning God is gracious. The -ita ending gives it an affectionate, endearing quality. Juanita has been used in Spain and Latin America for centuries and became familiar in the United States in the twentieth century. It has a lively, three-syllable sound with stress on the middle syllable. Nita and Juana are natural nicknames. Juanita has a warm, cheerful feel and a strong connection to Hispanic heritage.
Popularity over time
Juanita 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 123 different years. Its best national rank was #48 in 1924, the same year it reached its highest count of 5,404 babies. In 2025, 61 babies were named Juanita, and it ranked #2,794 nationally. That is 36% fewer than ten years earlier, so it is becoming less common.
Its national rank moved from #61 in 1920, #115 in 1950, #304 in 1980, #836 in 2000, #1,826 in 2010, and #2,794 in 2025. Of the 207,684 US girls named Juanita since records began, 23% were born in the 1920s, its biggest decade. The 1930s come next, with 35,915 babies. Since 2010, 1,292 more have been named Juanita.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Marian, Wilma, June, Maxine, and Margie.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Juanita ranked highest in Ohio and California.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| Ohio | #1568 | 5 |
| California | #1794 | 12 |
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for girls.
Juanita is usually pronounced wah-NEE-tuh, with three syllables. It has seven letters, starts with J and ends in “-ta”.
Middle names for Juanita
A few middle names that flow with Juanita: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Juanita
Similar names
Anita Girl
uh-NEE-tuh
“little Ana; grace” · Spanish
#1,342
Sarita Girl
suh-REE-tuh
“little Sara; Sanskrit 'river'” · Spanish
#6,281
Lupita Girl
loo-PEE-tuh
“pet form of Guadalupe” · Spanish
#3,232
Manuela Girl
mahn-WEH-luh
“feminine of Manuel, God is with us” · Spanish
#2,573
Jacinta Girl
juh-SIN-tuh
“hyacinth” · Spanish
#4,397
Isabell Girl
IH-zuh-behl
“God is my oath” · Spanish
#2,144
Mariela Girl
mah-ree-EH-luh
“diminutive of Maria” · Spanish
#1,232
Rita Girl
REE-tuh
“pearl; short for Margarita” · Italian
#1,287
Dalila Girl
duh-LEE-luh
“form of Delilah, meaning uncertain” · Spanish
#1,528
Susana Girl
soo-SAH-nuh
“lily” · Spanish
#2,254
Rosetta Girl
roh-ZEH-tuh
“little rose” · Italian
#3,289
Aleta Girl
uh-LEE-tuh
“uncertain; possibly from Alethea, truth” · Spanish
#15,044
Lists that include Juanita
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Juanita mean?
Juanita is a Spanish and Hebrew name that means “God is gracious”.
What is the origin of the name Juanita?
Juanita has Spanish and Hebrew roots. Juanita is the Spanish diminutive of Juana, the feminine form of Juan, from the Hebrew Yochanan, meaning God is gracious.
Is Juanita a popular name?
Not especially. Juanita ranked #2,794 in the US in 2025, which puts it outside the top 1,000.
Is Juanita a boy or girl name?
Juanita is mainly a girl's name. In the US it is used almost only for girls.
How do you pronounce Juanita?
Juanita is usually pronounced wah-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