Fun Facts About the Name Anita
- A favorite of earlier generations: Anita appeared in the U.S. top 100 in 2 separate runs, totaling 30 years. Its last run lasted 19 consecutive years, from 1949 through 1967.
- More than 215 thousand babies named Anita: U.S. records list 215,848 babies given the name Anita from 1880 through 2025. Even 684 boys received the name Anita - about 1 boy for every 315 girls.
What Does the Name Anita Mean?
Anita is a feminine name meaning "grace," a diminutive of Ana or Anna formed with the Romance suffix -ita, which is especially common in Spanish and Portuguese. The parent name Anna comes from the Greek Ἄννα (Anna), which derives from the Hebrew חַנָּה (Channah, also spelled Hannah). The Hebrew root is connected with "favor" or "graciousness," and "grace" is the customary English rendering. The diminutive suffix adds the sense "little," so Anita literally means "little Ana" or "little Anna."
Anita Name History & Origins
The name Anna appears in the New Testament: in Luke 2:36, Anna is a prophetess who recognizes the infant Jesus at the Temple. In early Christian tradition, Anna is also the name given to the mother of the Virgin Mary, a story found in the Protoevangelium of James. Through the Latin Bible and Christian devotion, Anna became a common name across Europe. In the Iberian Peninsula, it took the form Ana in Spanish and Portuguese.
Anita arose from Ana as a diminutive, using the suffix -ita. It was originally an affectionate form meaning "little Ana," but it became an independent given name. The same suffix appears in many Spanish and Portuguese names, such as Juanita from Juana and Rosita from Rosa. In Italy, Anita is also used, and in English-speaking countries it became established as a name in its own right.
In the 19th century, the name was borne by Anita Garibaldi (1821 - 1849), born Ana Maria de Jesus Ribeiro, a Brazilian revolutionary who fought alongside her husband, Giuseppe Garibaldi. She was widely known as Anita. The name continued to be used in Europe and the Americas, and it is also used in India.
How Popular is the Name Anita?
Anita ranked among the top 100 U.S. names from 1937 through 1947, then returned in 1949 and remained through 1967.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #1,342 | 165 | 0.0103% |
| 2024 | #1,463 | 149 | 0.0092% |
| 2023 | #1,451 | 153 | 0.0095% |
| 2022 | #1,373 | 168 | 0.0103% |
| 2021 | #1,415 | 153 | 0.0093% |
| 2020 | #1,534 | 138 | 0.0085% |
| 2019 | #1,228 | 191 | 0.0114% |
| 2018 | #1,319 | 172 | 0.0101% |
| 2017 | #1,257 | 188 | 0.0109% |
| 2016 | #1,353 | 175 | 0.0099% |
| 2015 | #1,521 | 148 | 0.0083% |
| 2014 | #1,399 | 164 | 0.0092% |
| 2013 | #1,470 | 151 | 0.0086% |
| 2012 | #1,491 | 151 | 0.0086% |
| 2011 | #1,301 | 181 | 0.0103% |
| 2010 | #1,349 | 174 | 0.0098% |
| 2009 | #1,242 | 199 | 0.0108% |
| 2008 | #1,090 | 238 | 0.0126% |
| 2007 | #1,196 | 211 | 0.0110% |
| 2006 | #1,151 | 212 | 0.0112% |
| 2005 | #1,067 | 223 | 0.0121% |
| 2004 | #908 | 266 | 0.0145% |
| 2003 | #954 | 245 | 0.0134% |
| 2002 | #863 | 266 | 0.0148% |
| 2001 | #795 | 297 | 0.0165% |
| 2000 | #736 | 314 | 0.0173% |
| 1999 | #706 | 321 | 0.0181% |
| 1998 | #657 | 351 | 0.0199% |
| 1997 | #571 | 407 | 0.0234% |
| 1996 | #581 | 394 | 0.0225% |
| 1995 | #573 | 400 | 0.0227% |
| 1994 | #552 | 438 | 0.0245% |
| 1993 | #502 | 491 | 0.0271% |
| 1992 | #454 | 547 | 0.0297% |
| 1991 | #439 | 580 | 0.0309% |
| 1990 | #404 | 642 | 0.0338% |
| 1989 | #374 | 677 | 0.0367% |
| 1988 | #344 | 718 | 0.0403% |
| 1987 | #333 | 737 | 0.0424% |
| 1986 | #323 | 745 | 0.0434% |
| 1985 | #323 | 738 | 0.0429% |
| 1984 | #280 | 863 | 0.0513% |
| 1983 | #268 | 899 | 0.0538% |
| 1982 | #248 | 1,011 | 0.0597% |
| 1981 | #236 | 1,056 | 0.0633% |
| 1980 | #223 | 1,151 | 0.0693% |
| 1979 | #230 | 1,139 | 0.0710% |
| 1978 | #210 | 1,221 | 0.0797% |
| 1977 | #178 | 1,512 | 0.0986% |
| 1976 | #167 | 1,508 | 0.1029% |
| 1975 | #157 | 1,722 | 0.1181% |
| 1974 | #144 | 1,936 | 0.1319% |
| 1973 | #142 | 1,986 | 0.1362% |
| 1972 | #136 | 2,230 | 0.1466% |
| 1971 | #127 | 2,685 | 0.1614% |
| 1970 | #127 | 2,895 | 0.1656% |
| 1969 | #120 | 2,919 | 0.1730% |
| 1968 | #109 | 3,046 | 0.1857% |
| 1967 | #98 | 3,518 | 0.2131% |
| 1966 | #88 | 3,872 | 0.2288% |
| 1965 | #94 | 4,017 | 0.2276% |
| 1964 | #85 | 4,909 | 0.2591% |
| 1963 | #77 | 5,471 | 0.2839% |
| 1962 | #81 | 5,522 | 0.2808% |
| 1961 | #91 | 5,503 | 0.2726% |
| 1960 | #87 | 5,638 | 0.2788% |
| 1959 | #87 | 5,475 | 0.2706% |
| 1958 | #82 | 5,775 | 0.2871% |
| 1957 | #81 | 5,811 | 0.2842% |
| 1956 | #83 | 5,505 | 0.2742% |
| 1955 | #94 | 4,717 | 0.2412% |
| 1954 | #96 | 4,408 | 0.2270% |
| 1953 | #89 | 4,408 | 0.2343% |
| 1952 | #91 | 4,134 | 0.2229% |
| 1951 | #96 | 3,785 | 0.2102% |
| 1950 | #99 | 3,573 | 0.2086% |
| 1949 | #99 | 3,589 | 0.2098% |
| 1948 | #102 | 3,615 | 0.2129% |
| 1947 | #94 | 4,187 | 0.2362% |
| 1946 | #84 | 4,027 | 0.2563% |
| 1945 | #100 | 2,768 | 0.2118% |
| 1944 | #95 | 2,825 | 0.2129% |
| 1943 | #98 | 2,952 | 0.2116% |
| 1942 | #93 | 2,998 | 0.2220% |
| 1941 | #91 | 2,741 | 0.2269% |
| 1940 | #87 | 2,828 | 0.2473% |
| 1939 | #97 | 2,588 | 0.2360% |
| 1938 | #99 | 2,636 | 0.2389% |
| 1937 | #93 | 2,714 | 0.2551% |
| 1936 | #104 | 2,304 | 0.2215% |
| 1935 | #119 | 1,932 | 0.1842% |
| 1934 | #130 | 1,784 | 0.1708% |
| 1933 | #116 | 1,905 | 0.1890% |
| 1932 | #116 | 2,098 | 0.1966% |
| 1931 | #117 | 2,080 | 0.1954% |
| 1930 | #115 | 2,183 | 0.1939% |
| 1929 | #125 | 1,977 | 0.1771% |
| 1928 | #137 | 1,725 | 0.1496% |
| 1927 | #148 | 1,629 | 0.1366% |
| 1926 | #150 | 1,617 | 0.1364% |
| 1925 | #146 | 1,764 | 0.1449% |
| 1924 | #142 | 1,853 | 0.1484% |
| 1923 | #138 | 1,868 | 0.1548% |
| 1922 | #141 | 1,761 | 0.1466% |
| 1921 | #134 | 1,924 | 0.1560% |
| 1920 | #131 | 1,934 | 0.1614% |
| 1919 | #146 | 1,504 | 0.1331% |
| 1918 | #151 | 1,482 | 0.1280% |
| 1917 | #137 | 1,573 | 0.1455% |
| 1916 | #151 | 1,339 | 0.1282% |
| 1915 | #164 | 1,116 | 0.1134% |
| 1914 | #186 | 720 | 0.0945% |
| 1913 | #193 | 562 | 0.0900% |
| 1912 | #182 | 540 | 0.0968% |
| 1911 | #187 | 381 | 0.0911% |
| 1910 | #195 | 338 | 0.0852% |
| 1909 | #199 | 291 | 0.0838% |
| 1908 | #202 | 277 | 0.0829% |
| 1907 | #209 | 242 | 0.0760% |
| 1906 | #211 | 215 | 0.0728% |
| 1905 | #214 | 209 | 0.0717% |
| 1904 | #220 | 190 | 0.0690% |
| 1903 | #208 | 202 | 0.0771% |
| 1902 | #238 | 163 | 0.0617% |
| 1901 | #210 | 184 | 0.0769% |
| 1900 | #242 | 176 | 0.0587% |
| 1899 | #230 | 142 | 0.0609% |
| 1898 | #207 | 198 | 0.0765% |
| 1897 | #230 | 144 | 0.0615% |
| 1896 | #234 | 139 | 0.0584% |
| 1895 | #248 | 126 | 0.0539% |
| 1894 | #266 | 107 | 0.0480% |
| 1893 | #241 | 119 | 0.0559% |
| 1892 | #299 | 82 | 0.0386% |
| 1891 | #310 | 66 | 0.0356% |
| 1890 | #301 | 68 | 0.0357% |
| 1889 | #285 | 69 | 0.0387% |
| 1888 | #311 | 59 | 0.0330% |
| 1887 | #332 | 41 | 0.0281% |
| 1886 | #338 | 40 | 0.0277% |
| 1885 | #341 | 34 | 0.0256% |
| 1884 | #326 | 36 | 0.0279% |
| 1883 | #344 | 27 | 0.0240% |
| 1882 | #407 | 20 | 0.0185% |
| 1881 | #338 | 23 | 0.0250% |
| 1880 | #423 | 16 | 0.0176% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | #7,222 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1989 | #5,185 | 9 | 0.0004% |
| 1988 | #7,334 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1987 | #6,131 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1986 | #6,774 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1985 | #4,724 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1983 | #5,516 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1982 | #6,418 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1981 | #4,981 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1979 | #3,572 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1978 | #4,168 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1977 | #3,843 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1975 | #5,500 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1974 | #3,335 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1973 | #3,233 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1972 | #3,356 | 9 | 0.0006% |
| 1971 | #4,400 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1970 | #2,624 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1969 | #2,554 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1968 | #2,204 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 1967 | #2,771 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1966 | #2,791 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1965 | #2,087 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 1964 | #2,313 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1963 | #2,204 | 14 | 0.0007% |
| 1962 | #1,965 | 17 | 0.0008% |
| 1961 | #1,779 | 21 | 0.0010% |
| 1960 | #2,043 | 16 | 0.0008% |
| 1959 | #1,975 | 17 | 0.0008% |
| 1958 | #2,377 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1957 | #1,794 | 20 | 0.0009% |
| 1956 | #2,264 | 13 | 0.0006% |
| 1955 | #2,568 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1954 | #2,457 | 11 | 0.0005% |
| 1953 | #3,437 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1952 | #2,882 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1951 | #3,078 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1950 | #3,341 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1949 | #2,027 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 1948 | #2,330 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1947 | #2,675 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1946 | #1,816 | 16 | 0.0010% |
| 1945 | #2,576 | 8 | 0.0006% |
| 1944 | #3,121 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1943 | #2,566 | 9 | 0.0006% |
| 1942 | #2,388 | 10 | 0.0007% |
| 1941 | #2,085 | 12 | 0.0010% |
| 1940 | #1,520 | 20 | 0.0017% |
| 1939 | #1,795 | 15 | 0.0014% |
| 1938 | #2,658 | 8 | 0.0007% |
| 1937 | #2,917 | 7 | 0.0007% |
| 1936 | #1,803 | 15 | 0.0014% |
| 1935 | #2,401 | 10 | 0.0010% |
| 1934 | #2,984 | 7 | 0.0007% |
| 1933 | #2,097 | 12 | 0.0012% |
| 1932 | #2,000 | 14 | 0.0013% |
| 1931 | #2,212 | 12 | 0.0012% |
| 1930 | #2,453 | 11 | 0.0010% |
| 1929 | #2,209 | 13 | 0.0012% |
| 1928 | #2,853 | 9 | 0.0008% |
| 1927 | #2,708 | 10 | 0.0009% |
| 1923 | #3,191 | 8 | 0.0007% |
| 1922 | #3,547 | 7 | 0.0006% |
| 1921 | #3,224 | 8 | 0.0007% |
| 1920 | #3,505 | 7 | 0.0007% |
| 1917 | #2,964 | 8 | 0.0009% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
Explore Name Lists Featuring Anita
Carl appears in several baby name collections based on U.S. popularity records, naming trends, and name characteristics. Explore these lists to discover other names with similar histories, styles, or features.
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How the Name Anita Shapes Your Personality and Life?
Powerful and complete. You are good intellectually and require several outlets for your energies. You are not a builder but a planner, and you want others to carry out your plans. You are bold, independent, inquisitive and interested in research. You know what you want and why you want it.
You desire to inspire and lead, to control other's affairs. You are giving, courageous and bold, action oriented,energetic and strong willed. You want to make a difference in the world, and this attitude often attracts you to cultural interests, politics, social issues, and the cultivation of your creative talents.
✦ Anita's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Anita's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.