NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Ita

Italian feminine diminutive form of Ida, meaning "labor" or "work".

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.

Ita is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Ita popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4192, with 5 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2021, with 7 births.

This profile covers 42 England and Wales registrations across 10 recorded years from 2002 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 71% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 42 living people in the UK are called Ita. 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

  • Ita ranked #4192 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 5 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2021, when 7 girls were registered as Ita.
  • About 42 living people in the UK are estimated to have Ita as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#4192

2024

Births in 2024

5

Latest year

Peak year

2021

7 births

Estimated living

42

2026

Meaning

What does Ita mean?

The name Ita has its origins in the Old Norse language, dating back to the Viking era of the 8th to 11th centuries. It is derived from the Old Norse word "ita," which means "little" or "small." This name was likely used as a nickname or term of endearment for a child or a person of small stature.

In Norse mythology, Ita was also the name of a minor goddess associated with fertility and childbirth. Her name appears in some ancient Icelandic texts and sagas, although details about her are scarce.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Ita comes from the 9th century. Ita was the name of an Irish nun and abbess who founded a monastery in County Limerick, Ireland. She was born around 475 AD and is venerated as a saint in the Catholic Church.

Another notable figure with the name Ita was Ita Wegman, a Dutch physician and anthroposophist who worked closely with the philosopher Rudolf Steiner. She lived from 1876 to 1943 and played a significant role in developing alternative medicine and anthroposophical therapies.

In the world of literature, Ita was the name of a character in the novel "The Valley of the Squinting Windows" by Brinsley MacNamara, published in 1918. The novel explores rural life in Ireland and was praised for its vivid depictions of Irish culture and language.

Ita Marguerre was a German soprano who performed in the early 20th century. She was born in 1892 and was particularly renowned for her interpretations of the works of Richard Wagner.

Ita Daly was an Irish Sinn Féin politician who served as a member of the Irish Parliament (Dáil Éireann) from 1923 to 1927. She was born in 1892 and was actively involved in the Irish independence movement.

These are just a few examples of notable individuals throughout history who have borne the name Ita. While its usage may have waned in modern times, the name carries a rich cultural heritage and historical significance.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Ita over time

The chart below shows babies named Ita registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2002 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 Ita, the clearest high point is 2021. The latest England and Wales figure is 5 births in 2024, compared with 7 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Ita
02457200220132024

Decades

Ita by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Ita 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 #3982 21 4
2010s #5188 18 5
2000s #4137 3 1

Related

Names similar to Ita

FAQ

Ita: questions and answers

How popular is the name Ita in the UK right now?

In 2024, Ita was ranked #4192 for girls in England and Wales, with 5 births registered.

When was Ita most popular?

The peak year on record was 2021, with 7 babies registered as Ita in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Ita?

Italian feminine diminutive form of Ida, meaning "labor" or "work".

How many people are called Ita in the UK?

A total of 42 babies have been registered as Ita across the 10 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.