Janita is of Latin origin, meaning 'graceful' or 'chaste'. It is a variant of the Latin name Iana, which was derived from the Roman family name Ianuarius, itself originating from the month of January. Janita gained popularity in the 20th century and has been used in various forms around the world, including Jana, Janina, and Yanna.
The name Janita experienced significant popularity between the 1940s and the 1970s with a notable peak in the late 1960s to early 1970s, when it consistently saw over 20 births per year. However, its popularity has declined since then, with fewer than 20 births recorded annually after 1978 and fewer than 10 since 1995. The name's total recorded births from 1915 to 2023 amount to 1823.