Rita
Meaning of Rita
Rita is the kind of name that slips off the tongue like a polished pearl—fitting, since it began as the diminutive of Margarita, the Latin-Greek classic meaning “pearl.” From medieval Italy, where Saint Rita of Cascia became the go-to intercessor for lost causes, to mid-century America, where silver-screen siren Rita Hayworth lent it high-wattage glamour, the name has a knack for shining in unlikely places. Today, Rita lands in that sweet spot between vintage and vibrant: familiar yet uncommon, brisk yet endearing, warm as a summer pop song by Rita Ora. It carries a whisper of Mediterranean sunshine, a dash of Hollywood dazzle, and just enough retro flair to feel fresh again—proof that good things really do come in small, two-syllable packages.
Pronunciation
English
- Pronunced as REE-tuh (/ˈriːtə/)
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Notable People Named Rita
| Rita Hayworth was an American actress and dancer nicknamed the Love Goddess who became one of the brightest stars of Hollywood's Golden Age and a beloved WWII pin-up. |
| Rita Levi-Montalcini was an Italian neurobiologist who shared the 1986 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine with Stanley Cohen for discovering nerve growth factor. |
| Rita Moreno is a Puerto Rican actress and singer whose eight-decade career earned her an EGOT and the Presidential Medal of Freedom. |
| Rita Dove is an American poet who won the 1987 Pulitzer Prize for Poetry and became the first African American to serve as U.S. Poet Laureate in 1993. |
| Rita Mae Brown is an American feminist writer best known for her groundbreaking novel Rubyfruit Jungle and her lifelong push for lesbian visibility in the women's movement. |
| Rita of Cascia was an Italian widow turned Augustinian nun, beloved for her powerful prayers and the miracles credited to her intercession. |
| Rita Coolidge is an American singer who won two Grammy Awards with Kris Kristofferson and recorded All Time High for the James Bond film Octopussy. |
| Rita Marley is a Jamaican reggae singer, the widow of Bob Marley, and a member of the I Threes, the vocal trio that sang backup for Bob Marley and the Wailers. |
| Rita Jeptoo is a Kenyan marathon runner who won the Boston Marathon twice and claimed victories in Chicago, Stockholm and Milan. |
| Rita Panahi is a conservative commentator of Iranian descent known for her Herald Sun column and her work on television and radio. |
| Rita Pavone is an Italian-Swiss singer, actress and showgirl who became a pop star in the 1960s. |
| Rita is a beloved Israeli singer and actress who was born in Iran. |
| Rita Joe was a Mi'kmaw poet and songwriter celebrated as the Poet Laureate of her people. |
| Rita McBride is an American sculptor based in Los Angeles and Düsseldorf, where she teaches at the Kunstakademie and served as its director until 2017. |
