Rita

#1,285 for girls in 2025, 174 births · Last seen for boys in 1984 at #4,973
Given to girls 99.7% of the time

Showing
Show data for
Peak · girls
1930 · 5,470 births
Debut · girls
19 births
In top 100 · girls
47 yrs
of 146 years
Total births · girls
284,452
since 1880

Rita over time

girls

Rank among girls' names. Click any year to open it.

#1#10#100#1,000rank188019001920194019601980200020201980peak #42, 1930girls
Hover or use arrow keys to read values by year; click or press Enter to open that year.

Gaps mean fewer than 5 babies received the name that year, so the SSA doesn't publish it.

Show data table
Yeargirlsboys
rankbirthsrankbirths
2025#1,285174
2024#1,395161
2023#1,373164
2022#1,322178
2021#1,432150
2020#1,231185
2019#1,345169
2018#1,250185
2017#1,182207
2016#1,188210
2015#1,280190
2014#1,362171
2013#1,289182
2012#1,379169
2011#1,363169
2010#1,336176
2009#1,414166
2008#1,325186
2007#1,199210
2006#1,173207
2005#1,078220
2004#1,067216
2003#1,105199
2002#916244
2001#846270
2000#880251
1999#921229
1998#862246
1997#850240
1996#703303
1995#707296
1994#669318
1993#652342
1992#588390
1991#553423
1990#545434
1989#549412
1988#466485
1987#432518
1986#408544
1985#386588
1984#375607#4,9737
1983#376592
1982#338709
1981#284855
1980#296840#4,1349
1979#277881#6,0565
1978#262892#3,8579
1977#295802
1976#271859
1975#272883
1974#256992
1973#2481,031
1972#2301,199#3,9637
1971#2151,418#2,97311
1970#2031,590#2,89111
1969#1841,736
1968#1592,073#2,57611
1967#1462,380#2,7609
1966#1352,688#2,21613
1965#1263,067#3,2447
1964#1223,470#2,54611
1963#1153,808#2,30013
1962#1104,102#1,96217
1961#1054,532#2,70610
1960#965,027#2,12115
1959#984,952#3,2907
1958#885,340#1,83819
1957#786,018#2,01916
1956#796,054#2,9698
1955#726,094#1,90217
1954#676,536#2,04415
1953#646,284#3,4256
1952#666,148#2,25112
1951#616,415#2,36711
1950#566,424#2,01914
1949#546,653#1,87216
1948#595,835#2,44310
1947#605,982#1,85017
1946#565,533#2,03013
1945#594,282#2,3939
1944#544,530#2,30910
1943#525,011#1,91015
1942#554,706#1,86715
1941#633,879#1,53220
1940#703,442#1,89414
1939#783,188#1,71216
1938#743,357#2,6468
1937#693,421#2,08812
1936#693,334#1,46321
1935#633,579#2,12712
1934#633,683#1,86015
1933#533,840#1,64418
1932#534,256#1,28628
1931#484,613#1,25330
1930#425,470#1,60221
1929#524,767#1,84817
1928#574,810#1,61122
1927#545,084#1,79619
1926#505,015#2,30213
1925#485,323#2,01216
1924#495,381#2,47312
1923#505,095#3,8226
1922#524,976#3,2528
1921#485,157#2,63211
1920#524,979#2,33613
1919#544,515
1918#584,447#2,54311
1917#633,870
1916#673,477#3,1777
1915#713,063#2,8298
1914#872,010
1913#1161,096#2,8215
1912#165636
1911#179403
1910#198333
1909#197295
1908#212255
1907#196266
1906#219203
1905#229188
1904#241166
1903#228174
1902#257148
1901#247135
1900#255162
1899#227147
1898#244146
1897#263117
1896#273109
1895#275105
1894#271104
1893#27595
1892#28887
1891#31365
1890#34854
1889#27575
1888#33352
1887#33740
1886#40628
1885#36531
1884#40924
1883#49915
1882#38921
1881#37420
1880#37519
First appearance
1880

In the first year the SSA published name data, Rita was already there! It came in at #375, and was given to 19 baby girls.


Quietest stretch: 1880–1883, when fewer than 22 girls a year got the name.

Where Rita is popular in 1980

  • Rank in state
  • Top 10
  • 11–50
  • 51–100
  • 101–500
  • 501+
  • Not published
Alaska: fewer than 5 girls named Rita, so not publishedAKMaine: fewer than 5 girls named Rita, so not publishedMEVermont: fewer than 5 girls named Rita, so not publishedVTNew Hampshire: fewer than 5 girls named Rita, so not publishedNHWashington: #471 for girls · 8 births · 1 in 3,355 girlsWAIdaho: fewer than 5 girls named Rita, so not publishedIDMontana: #161 for girls · 7 births · 1 in 669 girlsMTNorth Dakota: fewer than 5 girls named Rita, so not publishedNDMinnesota: #228 for girls · 20 births · 1 in 1,457 girlsMNIllinois: #325 for girls · 37 births · 1 in 2,089 girlsILWisconsin: #231 for girls · 21 births · 1 in 1,500 girlsWIMichigan: #271 for girls · 34 births · 1 in 1,773 girlsMINew York: #350 for girls · 45 births · 1 in 2,219 girlsNYMassachusetts: #371 for girls · 11 births · 1 in 2,841 girlsMARhode Island: fewer than 5 girls named Rita, so not publishedRIOregon: #242 for girls · 13 births · 1 in 1,331 girlsORNevada: fewer than 5 girls named Rita, so not publishedNVWyoming: #144 for girls · 6 births · 1 in 535 girlsWYSouth Dakota: fewer than 5 girls named Rita, so not publishedSDIowa: #243 for girls · 13 births · 1 in 1,545 girlsIAIndiana: #286 for girls · 18 births · 1 in 2,055 girlsINOhio: #301 for girls · 32 births · 1 in 2,291 girlsOHPennsylvania: #336 for girls · 27 births · 1 in 2,554 girlsPANew Jersey: #264 for girls · 23 births · 1 in 1,618 girlsNJConnecticut: #346 for girls · 6 births · 1 in 2,482 girlsCTCalifornia: #249 for girls · 133 births · 1 in 1,306 girlsCAUtah: #455 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 3,292 girlsUTColorado: #291 for girls · 12 births · 1 in 1,641 girlsCONebraska: fewer than 5 girls named Rita, so not publishedNEMissouri: #364 for girls · 12 births · 1 in 2,785 girlsMOKentucky: #247 for girls · 16 births · 1 in 1,554 girlsKYWest Virginia: fewer than 5 girls named Rita, so not publishedWVVirginia: #222 for girls · 23 births · 1 in 1,296 girlsVAMaryland: fewer than 5 girls named Rita, so not publishedMDDelaware: fewer than 5 girls named Rita, so not publishedDEArizona: #228 for girls · 17 births · 1 in 1,134 girlsAZNew Mexico: #313 for girls · 6 births · 1 in 1,555 girlsNMKansas: #251 for girls · 11 births · 1 in 1,374 girlsKSArkansas: fewer than 5 girls named Rita, so not publishedARTennessee: #230 for girls · 21 births · 1 in 1,354 girlsTNNorth Carolina: #244 for girls · 23 births · 1 in 1,446 girlsNCSouth Carolina: #306 for girls · 10 births · 1 in 1,790 girlsSCDistrict of Columbia: #178 for girls · 8 births · 1 in 703 girlsDCOklahoma: #266 for girls · 13 births · 1 in 1,485 girlsOKLouisiana: #307 for girls · 17 births · 1 in 1,806 girlsLAMississippi: #307 for girls · 10 births · 1 in 1,642 girlsMSAlabama: #281 for girls · 14 births · 1 in 1,642 girlsALGeorgia: #388 for girls · 14 births · 1 in 2,520 girlsGAHawaii: fewer than 5 girls named Rita, so not publishedHITexas: #240 for girls · 97 births · 1 in 1,236 girlsTXFlorida: #327 for girls · 25 births · 1 in 2,064 girlsFL

Hover or tap a state for its numbers.

Top states · girls
  1. Wyoming#144 · 1 in 535
  2. Montana#161 · 1 in 669
  3. District of Columbia#178 · 1 in 703
  4. Virginia#222 · 1 in 1,296
  5. Arizona#228 · 1 in 1,134

Best ever in a state: #2 in New Hampshire, 1921.

Show every state
StateRankBirthsShare
Wyoming#14461 in 535
Montana#16171 in 669
District of Columbia#17881 in 703
Virginia#222231 in 1,296
Arizona#228171 in 1,134
Minnesota#228201 in 1,457
Tennessee#230211 in 1,354
Wisconsin#231211 in 1,500
Texas#240971 in 1,236
Oregon#242131 in 1,331
Iowa#243131 in 1,545
North Carolina#244231 in 1,446
Kentucky#247161 in 1,554
California#2491331 in 1,306
Kansas#251111 in 1,374
New Jersey#264231 in 1,618
Oklahoma#266131 in 1,485
Michigan#271341 in 1,773
Alabama#281141 in 1,642
Indiana#286181 in 2,055
Colorado#291121 in 1,641
Ohio#301321 in 2,291
South Carolina#306101 in 1,790
Louisiana#307171 in 1,806
Mississippi#307101 in 1,642
New Mexico#31361 in 1,555
Illinois#325371 in 2,089
Florida#327251 in 2,064
Pennsylvania#336271 in 2,554
Connecticut#34661 in 2,482
New York#350451 in 2,219
Missouri#364121 in 2,785
Massachusetts#371111 in 2,841
Georgia#388141 in 2,520
Utah#45551 in 3,292
Washington#47181 in 3,355
Alaska
Arkansas
Delaware
Hawaii
Idaho
Maine
Maryland
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
North Dakota
Rhode Island
South Dakota
Vermont
West Virginia

Ranks are within each state; “1 in N” is out of the girls born there that year. The SSA only publishes a name in a state when 5 or more babies of one sex got it.

See more about Rita
Momentum · girls
Holding steady
  • 110 spots since 2024 (#1,395#1,285)
  • 54 spots since 2020 (#1,231#1,285)
  • 5 spots since 2015 (#1,280#1,285)
  • Biggest jump: 90 spots in 1884 (#499#409)
  • Biggest drop: 189 spots in 2003 (#916#1,105)
Rise & fade · girls
50 yrs to peak
  • Debuted 1880
  • Peaked 1930 at #42 (5,470 births)
  • Births halved by 1966, 36 yrs later
Top of the charts · girls
Top 100 for 47 yrs
  • Top 10: never
  • Top 100: 47 yrs · run 1914–1960
  • Top 1,000: 123 yrs · run 1880–2002
Share of babies · girls
1 in 206
  • Highest: 1 in 206 girls born in 1930 were named Rita (0.49%)
  • Latest: 1 in 9,237 girls born in 2025 (0.01%)
Era · girls
The 1950s
  • 21.2% of all girls named Rita (60,265) were born in this decade
Show by decade
DecadeBirthsBest rankAvg rank
1880s325#275 (1889)#376
1890s1,029#227 (1899)#278
1900s1,992#196 (1907)#228
1910s23,850#54 (1919)#106
1920s50,587#48 (1925)#51
1930s38,741#42 (1930)#61
1940s49,853#52 (1943)#58
1950s60,265#56 (1950)#73
1960s32,883#96 (1960)#130
1970s10,547#203 (1970)#253
1980s6,150#284 (1981)#391
1990s3,221#545 (1990)#705
2000s2,169#846 (2001)#1,100
2010s1,828#1,182 (2017)#1,297
2020s1,012#1,231 (2020)#1,340

All figures count published births only (names given to at least 5 girls in a year). Registrations before 1937 are incomplete, so early shares and totals run low.

Rita in 1980

girls
#296
840 births · 1 in 1,977 girls
boys
#4,134
9 births · 1 in 198,217 boys

Top girls' names in 1980

  1. #1Jennifer58,374
  2. #2Amanda35,811
  3. #3Jessica33,924
  4. #4Melissa31,629
  5. #5Sarah25,757
  6. #6Heather19,973
  7. #7Nicole19,917
  8. #8Amy19,833
  9. #9Elizabeth19,529
  10. #10Michelle19,119
  11. #296Rita840

Top boys' names in 1980

  1. #1Michael68,683
  2. #2Christopher49,079
  3. #3Jason48,164
  4. #4David41,891
  5. #5James39,312
  6. #6Matthew37,834
  7. #7Joshua36,052
  8. #8John35,274
  9. #9Robert34,266
  10. #10Joseph30,185
  11. #4,134Rita9
More about 1980

girls

1,660,307 girls got a published name in 1980; 1 in 1,977 of them was named Rita, which outranked 97.6% of the 12,161 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 17.1% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Rita
  1. #292Jody848
  2. #294Tameka845
  3. #295Esther842
  4. #296Rita840
  5. #296Chasity840
  6. #298Eva838
  7. #299Connie836
  8. #300Hillary835

Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.

Biggest movers since 1979
Risers
  1. 1,510Renada#2,218#708
  2. 1,173Tai#2,112#939
  3. 1,036Anya#1,592#556
  4. 601Chimere#1,503#902
  5. 517Brynn#1,442#925
Fallers
  1. 529Marlana#989#1,518
  2. 494Kizzy#647#1,141
  3. 369January#748#1,117
  4. 361Carisa#836#1,197
  5. 328Latonia#841#1,169

Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.

boys

1,783,951 boys got a published name in 1980; 1 in 198,217 of them was named Rita, which outranked 43.3% of the 7,293 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 23.6% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Rita
  1. #3,838Zeshan10
  2. #3,838Zeth10
  3. #3,838Zoran10
  4. #4,134Rita9
  5. #4,134Abdiel9
  6. #4,134Abelino9
  7. #4,134Addis9
  8. #4,495Abbas8
  9. #4,495Abdel8
  10. #4,495Abdulaziz8

Tied with 360 names at #4,134; 3 shown. Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.

Biggest movers since 1979
Risers
  1. 381Gideon#1,370#989
  2. 296Bo#864#568
  3. 270Anson#1,137#867
  4. 266Dustan#1,255#989
  5. 255Dusty#614#359
Fallers
  1. 366Harris#991#1,357
  2. 362Tracey#842#1,204
  3. 331Jevon#780#1,111
  4. 321Kennith#937#1,258
  5. 267Levar#644#911

Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.

See the top 100 for 1980