Rita
REE-tah · 2 syllables
♀ Female ◎ Greek / Italian ◈ 2 syllables
"Pearl"

From Greek / Italian

Rita means pearl — a short form of Margherita/Margaret. Rita Moreno is the first Hispanic EGOT winner. Rita Hayworth was the most glamorous movie star of the 1940s. Rita Ora is a global pop star. Saint Rita is the patron saint of impossible causes. Four letters of the first Hispanic EGOT, Hayworth-level glamour, and the saint who makes impossible things happen.

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Rita at a glance
MeaningPearl
OriginGreek / Italian
GenderFemale
Syllables2
NumerologyLife Path 3
US Rank (today)#1303
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Why parents love Rita
  • Rita Moreno is the first Hispanic EGOT winner.
  • Rita Hayworth was the most glamorous 40s movie star.
  • Saint Rita is the patron saint of impossible causes.
  • Four letters with a strong, bright sound: REE-tah.
  • The meaning pearl carries Margaret heritage.
The vibe of Rita
pearlMargheritaMorenoEGOTHayworthglamourSaint Ritaimpossible causesHispanic
Origin & history of Rita
Greek margarites (pearl) Italian Margherita short form Rita
1
Greek / Italian roots
Rita is a short form of Margherita meaning pearl. Rita Moreno is the first Hispanic EGOT winner. Rita Hayworth was the most glamorous movie star of the 1940s. Saint Rita is the patron saint of impossible causes.
2
First recorded
Earliest known use: Short form; Rita Moreno (born 1931); Rita Hayworth (1918–1987).
3
Today
Rita remains a beloved choice, ranking #1303 in the US. 285,052 babies have been named Rita since 1880.
◈ Sources: Behind the Name, Oxford Dictionary of First Names, SSA data
How popular is Rita?
1949 peak year
Today, Rita is rarely chosen — ranked well outside the top 1,000 (around #1303), with only about 180 babies given the name per year. But it wasn't always this way. At its peak in 1949, 6,654 babies were given the name (ranked #54 nationally). Its strongest stretch was the 1950s. Rita's usage has held roughly steady recently. In all, around 285,052 babies have been registered as Rita since 1880.
Year-by-year registrations 1880–2024 · U.S. Social Security data
6,654 Babies named in peak year
(ranked #54)
180 Avg. per year
(last decade)
1,800 Total registrations
last 10 years
285,052 All-time total
(since 1880)
Popularity in the US today (rank #1,303) Moderate
→ Holding steady in recent years
📊 Check all names registered in the United States →
Numerology of Rita
3
Life path number
The Creator
Creativity, joy and self-expression.

Rita's Life Path 1 is the leader's number — EGOT-level leadership. People named Rita tend to be powerful, glamorous, and gifted at being the patron saint of impossible things.

Patron of impossible things
First-Hispanic EGOT
Hayworth-glamour
Ora-global
Four-letter pearl
R9
I9
T2
A1
Sum: 21 → Life path 3
Personality of Rita
Bright & creative
Imaginative, expressive, endlessly inventive.
😊
Magnetic warmth
Their laugh is contagious. People love being near them.
🌈
Eternal optimist
Even in dark moments they find the light.
🗣️
Storyteller
They can describe anything and make it fascinating.
Famous people named Rita

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Names that sound like Rita

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Names that combine with Rita

Sibling pairings that share the timeless, classic energy of Rita.

Middle names for Rita

The right middle name turns Rita into a complete story. Explore options for first-and-middle pairings, then last-name flow.

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Numerology life path calculator

Enter any full name and date of birth to discover the life path number — a core numerological indicator of personality, purpose and destiny.

First name
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Date of birth
7
Life path number

How we calculated this
Rita is a beautiful choice.
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