Marita

Meaning of Marita

Marita is a feminine name of Latin origin, functioning as a diminutive form of Maria, itself ultimately derived from the Hebrew Miriam. The suffix –ita in Italian and Spanish conveys both endearment and smallness, resulting in a culturally nuanced variant with a subtle intimacy. In the United States, Marita first appeared in official records in the early 1900s, achieved moderate popularity—peaking in the mid-1950s with over a hundred annual births—and has since declined; by 2024, only eight newborns bore the name, placing it at rank 942. Pronounced mah-REE-tah in Italian and Spanish (/maˈri.ta/ and /maˈɾi.ta/, respectively) and muh-REE-tuh in English (/məˈriːtə/), Marita retains phonetic clarity across all three languages. Its historical trajectory reflects wider naming patterns, moving from mid-century familiarity to contemporary rarity. Few appellations combine classical resonance with such understated distinctiveness, making Marita a technically grounded yet approachable choice for parents seeking an internationally flavored name.