Anita
Girl name · #1341 in 2025 · Rare
How old is the name Anita? In official American birth records, Anita has been tracked continuously since 1880, giving it 145 years of documented American history.
In 2025, 165 baby girls were named Anita, placing it at #1341 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #1520, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 10,909 girls born in 2025 was named Anita.
Babies named Anita per year. Source: Official national birth records.
The 145-year story
Anita first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 16 girls received the name. Its peak came in 1957, when 5,811 girls were named Anita — good for #81 that year. Today's parents encounter it as a name from their grandparents’ generation, which is precisely the vintage window from which names get revived. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Anita against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Anita in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Anita is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Anita will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Anita is most common
State-level data for Anita is too sparse in 2025 to rank by rate — in most states its count falls below the SSA's per-state reporting threshold (counts under 5 are withheld).
Names like Anita
Statistically, parents drawn to Anita tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Rita, Marta, Brenda, Carla, and Rosita.
RitaMartaBrendaCarlaRositaMarlaAudraAnn
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Anita | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 165 | #1341 |
| 2024 | 149 | #1466 |
| 2023 | 155 | #1439 |
| 2022 | 168 | #1373 |
| 2021 | 154 | #1410 |
| 2020 | 138 | #1533 |
| 2019 | 191 | #1229 |
| 2018 | 172 | #1319 |
| 2017 | 188 | #1257 |
| 2016 | 175 | #1353 |
| 2015 | 148 | #1520 |
| 2014 | 164 | #1399 |
| 2013 | 151 | #1470 |
| 2012 | 151 | #1491 |
| 2011 | 181 | #1301 |
| 2010 | 174 | #1348 |
| 2009 | 199 | #1241 |
| 2008 | 238 | #1090 |
| 2007 | 211 | #1196 |
| 2006 | 212 | #1151 |
| 2005 | 223 | #1067 |
| 2004 | 266 | #908 |
| 2003 | 245 | #954 |
| 2002 | 266 | #863 |
| 2001 | 297 | #795 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Anita?
In official American birth records, the name Anita first appeared in 1880 (over 145 years ago), when 16 newborn girls received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Anita a popular girl name?
Anita ranked #1341 among girls in 2025 with 165 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #1520.
When was the name Anita most popular?
Anita peaked in 1957, when 5,811 American girls received the name (ranked #81 that year). Since 1957 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Anita?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 10,909 newborn American girls was named Anita. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.