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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

Rita (and middle name suggestions)

92 replies

UsernameIsHarderThanBabyName · 15/02/2021 10:38

Hi. Expecting first baby 😀 and found out we’re having a girl.

What do you think of Rita?
Any middle name suggestions?

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Original poster
UsernameIsHarderThanBabyName · 14/10/2021 06:24

Realised I never updated….we called her Rita. Suits her perfectly ❤️

OP posts:
Idiotathome79 · 21/02/2021 11:46

My cousin has a little girl called Rita-lei

NelsonMandela1 · 21/02/2021 11:44

I'd keep it short. I really like the name Ava. I think that 'Rita Ava' would work well. And it also has a beautiful meaning: kidnames.org/ava-meaning-of-the-name/

Hailtomyteeth · 21/02/2021 10:14
Firebird83 · 17/02/2021 00:18

Retro and cool. Definitely deserves a comeback.

SeanChailleach · 16/02/2021 12:01

Oh... Is it "Ree'uh" in a South English accent? Now I get why you all dislike it. I would say "Ree-ta".

zigaziga · 16/02/2021 09:39

I met a baby Rita last year. I wasn’t surprised to meet a baby Dorothy or Ada or Maud but I was to meet Rita.
The parents said they just loved the name. I’ll be honest, I don’t hear what it is they must hear but it’s not particularly objectionable.

Chunkymenrock · 16/02/2021 09:36

Rita is very frumpy. Vita is awful, sounds like a dog food.

Rubytinsleslippers · 16/02/2021 09:29

I know 2 Henriettas who are Rita and one Robina who is Beanie!
I also know a Walterina which I think is awful! She doesn't shorten it!!

YoniAndGuy · 16/02/2021 09:29

No. It's not that it's just outdated - everything goes in a cycle - but that it's genuinely not a nice name.

Very hard and harsh.
Short, but also with only very hard options for short forms.
No nice associations really and definitely downmarket.

It's a good candidate for the 'names that will never come back' thread. It's one of those names that even when in fashion, would be a bit of an outlier because it's hard to like. There will be a small flurry of Ritas then it will drop straight back out again, and they'll dislike their names as much as the crop of 1950s Ritas do!

Peregrina · 16/02/2021 09:24

A Henrietta would become Etta or one I knew of was Hetty.

PetraRabbit · 16/02/2021 00:04

I think it's quite glamorous and old Hollywood. Also has a nice, international sound. I can imagine an Indian, Italian or Colombian Rita.

campion · 15/02/2021 23:36

@Rubytinsleslippers

Rita is short for Henrietta. I like it. Don't hear it often but due a comeback.
Since when? If it's short for anything its Margarita.

Don't do it OP. It's dull and old fashioned.

VenusClapTrap · 15/02/2021 23:27

I like it. I also like Eileen, Marjorie and Diana. I think this cohort of names will be the next thing.

Rubytinsleslippers · 15/02/2021 21:53

Rita is short for Henrietta. I like it. Don't hear it often but due a comeback.

Nell96 · 15/02/2021 21:50

Not keen I'm afraid. Sounds quite hard and it reminds me of a coronation street character. I do however like Vera, which has a similar vibe - used to know one, she was Spanish and very charismatic.

MatildaMainly · 15/02/2021 20:58

Might have missed previous references to Rita Ora.

Vita, as in Sackville West is from her given name, Victoria.

Hailtomyteeth · 15/02/2021 20:58

Rita Zeta.

Orphlids · 15/02/2021 20:51

I really like the name Rita, and I’d be delighted to meet a baby one. But yes, I agree that Vita is the better choice. The ‘v’ has the wonderful resonance as you say it, almost like a cat purring. But Rita is still smashing.

user1493494961 · 15/02/2021 19:52

Jackieweaver.... has described Rita to a T!

karenevasmith · 15/02/2021 17:25

-Karen
-Barley
-Walrus
-Dave (if you want to be original)

Thebizz · 15/02/2021 17:17

I don’t like it at all sorry.

Monkeytapper · 15/02/2021 17:15

Or how about Reeva instead of Rita?

Monkeytapper · 15/02/2021 17:14

Rita Elizabeth

IamnotwhouthinkIam · 15/02/2021 17:14

Love pp's suggestions of the similar sounding Vita! Because Vita was never used very often, it doesn't have the dated feel Rita does in the UK imo - Vita is more bohemian cool.