UK girl's name
Benita
Feminine name of Greek origin meaning "blissful" or "blessed.".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Benita is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Benita popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3318, with 7 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2005, with 14 births.
This profile covers 209 England and Wales registrations across 27 recorded years from 1996 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
The latest count is about 50% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 208 living people in the UK are called Benita. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2025 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Benita ranked #3318 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 7 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2005, when 14 girls were registered as Benita.
- • About 208 living people in the UK are estimated to have Benita as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#3318
2024
Births in 2024
7
Latest year
Peak year
2005
14 births
Estimated living
208
2026
Meaning
What does Benita mean?
The name Benita is a feminine given name with origins tracing back to the Latin language. It is derived from the Latin word "benedicta," which means "blessed." The name is a variant of the masculine name Benedict or Benedictus.
In its earliest usage, the name Benita was associated with the Benedictine order of monks and nuns, founded by St. Benedict in the 6th century. The Benedictine monasteries played a significant role in preserving ancient texts and promoting education during the Middle Ages.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Benita can be found in the 12th century, when a nun named Benita of Orvieto lived in a Benedictine convent in Italy. She is known for her writings on spiritual matters and her devotion to the Benedictine way of life.
In the 13th century, Benita de Burgos, a Spanish noblewoman, was renowned for her philanthropic work and her support for the poor and needy. She established several hospitals and charitable institutions in her hometown of Burgos.
During the Renaissance period, Benita Lomellin (1520-1563), an Italian painter and nun from Genoa, gained recognition for her religious artworks, particularly her altarpieces and frescoes adorning churches in Italy.
In the 17th century, Benita Ferrero (1627-1677), a Spanish mystic and Carmelite nun, was known for her visions and spiritual writings. Her work, "Autobiography and Spiritual Testament," offers insights into her religious experiences and her devotion to the Carmelite order.
Another notable figure bearing the name Benita was Benita Cadogan (1773-1860), a British activist and philanthropist. She was instrumental in establishing several schools and charitable organizations aimed at improving the education and welfare of children in London.
These are just a few examples of the historical figures who carried the name Benita. Throughout the centuries, the name has been associated with piety, spirituality, and a dedication to charitable causes, reflecting its origins as a "blessed" name with religious connotations.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Benita over time
The chart below shows babies named Benita registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Benita, the clearest high point is 2005. The latest England and Wales figure is 7 births in 2024, compared with 14 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Benita by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Benita was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | #3585 | 25 | 4 |
| 2010s | #3242 | 78 | 10 |
| 2000s | #2312 | 83 | 9 |
| 1990s | #2495 | 23 | 4 |
Related
Names similar to Benita
- Bethany 43,226
- Brooke 18,370
- Bella 14,112
- Bonnie 12,149
- Beatrice 11,306
- Bethan 7,968
- Beth 6,440
- Betsy 5,065
- Beatrix 4,317
- Billie 4,220
- Beau 3,231
- Bryony 3,167
FAQ
Benita: questions and answers
How popular is the name Benita in the UK right now?
In 2024, Benita was ranked #3318 for girls in England and Wales, with 7 births registered.
When was Benita most popular?
The peak year on record was 2005, with 14 babies registered as Benita in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Benita?
Feminine name of Greek origin meaning "blissful" or "blessed.".
How many people are called Benita in the UK?
A total of 209 babies have been registered as Benita across the 27 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.