Anita Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
The name Anita has its roots in Spanish and Hebrew, deriving from the name Hannah, which means 'grace' or 'favor'. It has evolved from Hannah to Ana and then to Anita. The name has a positive meaning associated with grace and has gained popularity since the late 19th century. While it does not have a biblical reference, it is associated with strong female figures, making it a name with a rich cultural significance.
The name Anita is most popular in New Mexico, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Girl name among the Baby Boomers generation in the South region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Anita has been falling for female in MidWest, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for male in South, too falling for female in South, stalled for female in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for female in South, stalled for female in West. Across generations, 'Anita' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 4399th out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 2276th out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 2283rd out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 3477th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 8057th out of 16616 names. Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 161st out of 9107 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 111th out of 9204 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 97th out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 132nd out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 372nd out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 964th out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 1403rd out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Anita' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Anita"
Pronunciation
/əˈniːtə/
Origin
Spanish, Hebrew
Etymology
Anita is a diminutive form of the name Ana, which is derived from the Hebrew name Hannah meaning 'grace' or 'favor'.
Meaning
grace, favor
Language Evolution
Hannah, Ana, Anita
Historical Usage
The name Anita gained popularity in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, especially in Spanish-speaking countries and has since spread to various cultures.
Variants & Derivatives
Ana, Ann, Annie
Modern Popularity & Image
Anita is often perceived as a warm and friendly name, commonly associated with strong, independent women.
Famous People
Anita Bryant, Anita Hill, Anita Ekberg
Explore More Anita Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Anita"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Anita"
"Anita" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 4399th of 7545 | 48 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 2276th of 6773 | 198 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 2283rd of 7552 | 241 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 3477th of 10718 | 140 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 8057th of 16616 | 57 |
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 161st of 9107 | 25,878 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 111th of 9204 | 43,038 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 97th of 12526 | 90,052 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 132nd of 19264 | 37,357 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 372nd of 27321 | 10,936 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 964th of 35406 | 4,056 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 1403rd of 30306 | 1,950 |
Regional Popularity of "Anita" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - |
91.29% 2148th/2353 |
- |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - |
70.66% 2016th/2853 |
- |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
Regional Popularity of "Anita" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
10.66% 151st/1416 |
8.27% 114th/1379 |
8.50% 201st/2366 |
8.49% 97th/1142 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
7.12% 110th/1546 |
5.72% 89th/1556 |
5.65% 133rd/2353 |
4.91% 76th/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
4.45% 99th/2227 |
5.02% 122nd/2430 |
2.66% 76th/2853 |
3.35% 93rd/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
4.70% 138th/2937 |
5.28% 184th/3483 |
3.18% 112th/3518 |
3.88% 157th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
9.96% 367th/3685 |
8.40% 376th/4475 |
6.91% 359th/5194 |
6.09% 385th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
20.91% 958th/4582 |
15.65% 808th/5164 |
17.45% 1276th/7313 |
11.20% 836th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
35.19% 1402nd/3984 |
33.43% 1500th/4487 |
26.36% 1798th/6822 |
18.85% 1183rd/6276 |
State-by-State Popularity of "Anita"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Anita" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.