rita

Rita is a female given name used in many countries and languages. In many cases it is a short form of Margarita or Margaret, but it also exists independently as a given name in Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, German, Polish, and other language communities. The name ultimately derives from the Latin margarita, meaning pearl, which itself traces to Greek margarites. Spelling and pronunciation vary by locale, and the name may appear as Rita, Ritta, or Ritá in transliteration, depending on linguistic tradition.

Several notable people have borne the name. Rita Hayworth (born Margarita Carmen Cansino) was an American actress and dancer prominent in the 1940s. Rita Moreno is an American actress and singer who won Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony awards. Rita Levi-Montalcini was an Italian neurobiologist who received the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1986. Rita Ora is a British singer and actress who rose to international fame in the 2010s.

In addition to the given name, Rita is also used as a transliteration of the Vedic term 'ṛta' (often spelled rita), a foundational concept in ancient Indian philosophy meaning cosmic order, truth, or natural law. In Rigveda contexts it denotes the universal order that sustains the cosmos and moral truth that guides human conduct; over time it influenced later notions such as dharma in Indian thought.