A 1920s favorite, climbing again.
Popularity of Vita since 1888
Babies named Vita per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1921, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Vita's real moment was 1929.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 12 |
| 1890s | 0 |
| 1900s | 93 |
| 1910s | 467 |
| 1920s | 726 |
| 1930s | 485 |
| 1940s | 461 |
| 1950s | 541 |
| 1960s | 476 |
| 1970s | 294 |
| 1980s | 180 |
| 1990s | 151 |
| 2000s | 185 |
| 2010s | 293 |
| 2020s | 227 |
Meaning & origin
Vita is a name that means "life" in Latin, a direct and uplifting meaning that has appealed to parents for over a century. It first appeared in U.S. data in 1888 and reached its peak popularity in 1929, during the Roaring Twenties. After a long decline, it began rising again in 1987, a trajectory that continues today. In 2025, Vita ranked 4,352 with about 1 in 50,227 girls receiving the name. Its top state historically is New York, reflecting its early adoption in urban, culturally diverse communities. Short and elegant, Vita offers a vibrant alternative to more common V-names like Victoria or Vivian.
Vita comes directly from the Latin noun for "life." It has been used as a given name in Italy and other Romance-language-speaking regions, where it carries a simple, affirmative meaning. In English-speaking countries, Vita gained modest use in the early 20th century, partly thanks to the popularity of the writer Vita Sackville-West.
Where Vita is most popular
Births per 100,000 girls by state, 2025. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Vita” around the world
Where Vita lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
5
babies in 2024
Sources: INSEE (France).
Sibling names for Vita
Names that share Vita's style, for a brother or sister.
