Anita is a female name of Latin origin. It is derived from the Latin word "anisatus", which means "without anxiety". Therefore, Anita can be interpreted as meaning "free from worry or care".
The name Anita has been popular throughout history, particularly in Spain and other Spanish-speaking countries. It was also used by some Eastern European cultures. However, it gained significant popularity in English-speaking countries during the 20th century.
One notable historical figure named Anita was Anita Delgado, a Spanish woman who married the Dalai Lama XIII in the early 1900s. Their marriage and her experiences in Tibet were the subject of a biography entitled "Anita: Memoirs of a Mountain Princess".
In literature, Anita is also the name of characters in works such as "The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes" by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and "The Jungle Book" by Rudyard Kipling.
Today, Anita remains a popular choice for parents looking for a classic yet unique name for their baby girl. It has a timeless quality that transcends cultural boundaries, making it a appealing option around the world.
The name Anita has seen a wide range of popularity over the years in the United States, with a total of 214,841 babies given this name since 1880.
In the late 19th century, the number of births with the name Anita started off relatively low, with only 16 babies named Anita in 1880. However, by 1893, there was a significant increase to 119 births, marking the beginning of a consistent rise in popularity for the name.
The early 20th century saw a steady increase in the number of babies named Anita, reaching a peak of 5,812 births in 1957. This trend continued into the mid-1960s, with 4,909 births recorded in 1964.
However, starting from the late 1960s, there was a gradual decline in the popularity of the name Anita. By 1972, the number of births had dropped to 2,231, and it continued to decrease throughout the 1970s and 1980s.
The lowest point for the name Anita was reached in 2020, with only 138 babies named Anita. However, there has been a slight resurgence in recent years, with 153 births recorded in 2021 and 167 in 2022.
Despite its ups and downs in popularity over the years, the name Anita remains a classic choice for parents in the United States, with a rich history dating back to the late 19th century.