Where does “Rita” come from?
Rita is an English given name derived from Italian Margherita, a feminine form ultimately traced through Romance languages to Latin margarita meaning pearl.
Ancestry of “Rita”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Italian | margherita | pearl; daisy |
| 2 | Italian | margarita | Archaic form of margherita; margarita |
| 3 | Spanish | margarita | daisy; pearl; margarita |
| 4 | Latin | margarīta | pearl |
| 5 | Ancient Greek | μαργαρίτης | pearl; a type of Egyptian plant |
| 6 | Proto-Iranian | *mŕ̥ga-ahri-ita- | — |