Given name
Benita
“one who is blessed”
Benita is a variant of Benedicta. In Latin use, Benedicta carries the interpretation “one who is blessed.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
Benita is a variant of Benedicta. In Latin use, Benedicta carries the interpretation “one who is blessed.”
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
Benita connects to the Benedict name family through Benedicta. An origin associated with Benedict is Latin.
Explained through its name family
How it developed
In Spanish usage, Benita is a feminine form of Benito. In Spanish usage, Benita developed from Benedictus.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1889. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Benita through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 13,669
- 0 boys · 13,669 girls
- Most popular year
- 1961
- 480 babies
- 2025
- 11
- #8,953 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +8%
- Steady
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 11 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 8,953 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 8.2% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 480 in 1961. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 14,084 as a first name in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Benita’s family of names
In Spanish usage, Benita is a feminine form of Benito. Benita has a related form in Benedicta. In Spanish usage, Benita shares a linguistic root with the English form Benedicta.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Around the world
Benita has relatives in 5 languages.
6 related names in 5 languages. Point at a dot, or tab to the map and use the arrow keys.
Nicknames & forms 4
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 5
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Across languages 5
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
See also 2
Names our sources mention alongside this one. They are related in story or meaning, not forms of this name.
People named Benita
- Benita Ferrero-WaldnerAustrian diplomat and politicianborn 1948
- Benita Fitzgerald-BrownAmerican hurdler (born 1961)
- Benita HumeBritish actress (1906–1967)
- Benita WillisAustralian distance runnerborn 1979
- Benita Asas ManterolaSpanish teacher, journalist, and suffragist (1873-1968)
- Benita Sena Okity-DuahGhanaian member of parliament for Ledzokuku constituency in the Greater Accra Regionborn 1976
- Benita Koch-OtteGerman artist and university teacher (1892-1976)
- Benita von FalkenhaynGerman baroness (1900–1935)
- Benita ValenteAmerican singer1934–2025
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Appears in
Similar names
If you love Benita, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Belinda
“a beautiful and tender woman”
>99% girls
Becky
“one who is bound to God”
>99% girls
Adelita
“of the nobility; serene; of good humor”
>99% girls
Beth
“my God is bountiful” · “God is my oath”
>99% girls
Sarita
“princess”
>99% girls
Betsy
“God is my oath” · “My God is bountiful”
>99% girls
Marita
“star of the sea” · “from the sea of bitterness”
>99% girls
Rosita
“horse” · “fame”
>99% girls