Given name
Juanita
“God is gracious”
In Spanish use, Juanita is a diminutive of Juana. In Spanish use, Juana carries the interpretation “God is gracious.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
In Spanish use, Juanita is a diminutive of Juana. In Spanish use, Juana carries the interpretation “God is gracious.”
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
In English use, Juanita has a related form in Joanna. An origin associated with Joanna is Greek.
Explained through its name family
How it developed
In Spanish use, Juanita is used as a feminine counterpart of Juan.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1880. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin. In English use, Juanita has a related form in Joanna. The history of Joanna gives this family its wider story. Joanna was in use during the Middle Ages.
Combines direct and name-family evidence
Juanita through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 208,675
- 991 boys · 207,684 girls
- Most popular year
- 1924
- 5,428 babies
- 2025
- 61
- #2,794 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −10%
- Easing
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 61 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 2,794 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 10.3% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 5,404 in 1924. In 2025, California had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (12). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 98,833 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.
Juanita’s family of names
Juanita is an affectionate form of Juan. In English usage, Juanita shares an earlier linguistic root with Janet. In Spanish usage, Juanita has a conventional equivalent in the French form Jeanne.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Around the world
Juanita has relatives in 4 languages.
24 related names in 4 languages. Point at a dot, or tab to the map and use the arrow keys.
Nicknames & forms 11
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
- Juanfull form
- Joannavariant · English
- Jennafull form · Spanish, English
- Johannavariant · German
- Juanafull form · French, Spanish
- Jennyfull form · Spanish, English
- Janeyfull form · Spanish, English
- Jeaniefull form · Spanish, English
Show 3 moreShow fewer
Spellings & scripts 1
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Across languages 22
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
- Jessiedoublet · English
- Janelledoublet · English
- Ivanaequivalent
- Janaequivalent
- Ivankadoublet · English
- Jeanettedoublet · English
- Joaniedoublet · English
- Janetdoublet · English
Show 14 moreShow fewer
People named Juanita
- Juanita MooreAmerican actress (1914-2014)
- Juanita HallAmerican musical theatre and film actress; singer, recording artist (1901-1968)
- Juanita HansenAmerican actress (1895–1961)
- Candida Maria of JesusSpanish saint (1845-1912)
- Juanita du PlessisSouth African singerborn 1972
- Juanita Millender-McDonaldCongresswoman (1938-2007)
- Juanita LarrauriArgentinian singer (1910–1990)
- Juanita ReinaSpanish actress and copla singer. (1925–1999)
- Juanita Jackson MitchellAmerican lawyer and activist (1913–1992)
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Appears in
Similar names
If you love Juanita, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Jaunita
>99% girls
Jovita
“daughter of the sky”
>99% girls
Marietta
Marietta is used as a given name and a surname. Marietta is connected with Maria and Mary.
>99% girls
Concetta
“refers to the Immaculate Conception”
>99% girls
Eulalia
“well-spoken”
>99% girls
Jannie
“God is gracious”
>99% girls
Wanita
“one who changes; a shapeshifter”
>99% girls
Una
“one who is pure; chaste”
>99% girls