UK girl's name
Marita
A feminine form of the name Marie, of Latin origin meaning "star of the sea".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2015. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Marita is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Marita popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2015 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5730, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2010, with 5 births.
This profile covers 21 England and Wales registrations across 6 recorded years from 1999 to 2015. 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 60% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 21 living people in the UK are called Marita. 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 2016 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Marita ranked #5730 for girls in England and Wales in 2015, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2010, when 5 girls were registered as Marita.
- • About 21 living people in the UK are estimated to have Marita as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5730
2015
Births in 2015
3
Latest year
Peak year
2010
5 births
Estimated living
21
2026
Meaning
What does Marita mean?
The name Marita is a feminine given name with roots in several languages and cultures. It is believed to have originated as a Spanish diminutive form of the name María, which is derived from the ancient Hebrew name Miryam or Mariam. The name María itself has its origins in the Egyptian word "mr" meaning "beloved" or "beloved lady."
Another possible origin of Marita is as a diminutive of the Italian name Marietta, which is also derived from María. In this context, the suffix "-ita" is a common Italian diminutive ending used to convey endearment or affection.
Marita has been a popular name throughout various regions of Europe, particularly in Spain, Italy, and Latin America. In some Slavic languages, such as Russian and Czech, the name Marita is also used, often as a variant of the name Margarita.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Marita can be found in the work of renowned Italian poet Dante Alighieri. In his masterpiece "The Divine Comedy," written in the early 14th century, Dante mentions a character named Marita in the Purgatorio section of the epic poem.
Another notable historical figure with the name Marita was Marita Petersen (1904-2001), a Danish actress and singer who gained fame in the early 20th century for her performances in numerous films and stage productions.
In the literary world, Marita Bonner (1899-1971) was an influential African American writer and playwright known for her contributions to the Harlem Renaissance movement of the 1920s and 1930s.
In the realm of politics, Marita Candida Coelho (1908-1964) was a prominent Brazilian politician and women's rights activist who served as a member of the National Congress of Brazil from 1955 to 1964.
Another notable figure with the name Marita was Marita Koch (born 1957), a former East German athlete and Olympic gold medalist in the 400-meter and 4x400-meter relay events during the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow.
These are just a few examples of the many notable individuals throughout history who have been bestowed with the name Marita, a name that has transcended cultures and languages, carrying with it a sense of beauty, affection, and endearment.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Marita over time
The chart below shows babies named Marita registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1999 to 2015. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Marita, the clearest high point is 2010. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2015, compared with 5 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Marita by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Marita 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | #5206 | 11 | 3 |
| 2000s | #4600 | 6 | 2 |
| 1990s | #3225 | 4 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Marita
- Megan 70,884
- Mia 67,204
- Molly 47,734
- Millie 44,390
- Maisie 32,671
- Matilda 29,965
- Maya 26,445
- Madison 18,441
- Maria 17,304
- Mollie 15,914
- Martha 15,116
- Maddison 14,918
FAQ
Marita: questions and answers
How popular is the name Marita in the UK right now?
In 2015, Marita was ranked #5730 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Marita most popular?
The peak year on record was 2010, with 5 babies registered as Marita in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Marita?
A feminine form of the name Marie, of Latin origin meaning "star of the sea".
How many people are called Marita in the UK?
A total of 21 babies have been registered as Marita across the 6 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.