A 1920s favorite, climbing again.
Popularity of Wanita since 1899
Babies named Wanita per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 5 |
| 1900s | 14 |
| 1910s | 221 |
| 1920s | 506 |
| 1930s | 413 |
| 1940s | 357 |
| 1950s | 310 |
| 1960s | 259 |
| 1970s | 196 |
| 1980s | 103 |
| 1990s | 55 |
| 2000s | 37 |
| 2010s | 34 |
| 2020s | 24 |
Meaning & origin
Wanita is a rare American name first recorded in 1899. Its use peaked in 1924, after which it declined steeply, but it has been rising again since 2015. The name's origins are ambiguous; it may be an alteration of Juanita or an independent invention. Despite its Spanish-like sound, it is not a traditional Spanish name and is best understood as a modern coinage. Its revival in recent years suggests a renewed interest in early 20th-century style names.
Wanita appears to be a 20th-century American coinage, possibly derived from Juanita by altering the initial consonant, or from the Spanish name Juana with a similar phonetic shift. It was first recorded in the U.S. in 1899 and saw modest use, peaking in 1924. The name has no clear historical root in Spanish naming traditions and is best classified as a modern invented name.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Wani, Nita, Wana
Sibling names for Wanita
Names that share Wanita's style, for a brother or sister.
