Given name · also Sanskrit
Sunita
“of good conduct”·“giving good guidance, righteous”·“one who is well-behaved; having good morals”
Sunita is used as a given name. Interpretations include “of good conduct” (Sanskrit), “giving good guidance, righteous” (Sanskrit), and “one who is well-behaved; having good morals” (Indian). These may reflect different naming traditions.
Meaning & origin
What it means
Interpretations include “of good conduct” (Sanskrit), “giving good guidance, righteous” (Sanskrit), and “one who is well-behaved; having good morals” (Indian). These may reflect different naming traditions.
Where it comes from
A possible origin is Sanskrit, although the derivation remains uncertain.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1963. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Sunita through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 609
- 0 boys · 609 girls
- Most popular year
- 1983
- 28 babies
- 2025
- 0
- Outside the ranked list
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- —
- Too few births to compare
By the numbers
The most recent published U.S. birth count for girls is 5 in 2023. Later missing counts do not mean the name went unused. Its largest published annual count for girls was 28 in 1983. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 4,728 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.
Sunita’s family of names
In English usage, Sunita has a diminutive in Sunny. Sunita has a related form in Sunitha. In English usage, Sunita has a related form in Suneeta.
The ring: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 9
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
- Sunnydiminutive · English
- Sunithavariant
- Sunittalikely variant
- Suneatavariant
- Suneetavariant · English
- Sunitivariant
- Sunitrahvariant
- Sunitravariant
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People named Sunita
- Sunita WilliamsAmerican astronaut and USN officerborn 1965
- Sunita NarainIndian environmentalistborn 1961
- Sunita DanuwarNepalese activist1977–2024
- Sunita DulalNepalese folk singer
- Sunita KohliIndian architectborn 1946
- Sunita JainIndian writer (1940-2017)
- Sunita DeviIndian mason honoured for building toiletsborn 1980
- Sunita MarshallPakistani fashion model and actressborn 1981
- Sunita DangolDeputy Mayor of Kathmandu
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Sunita, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Sumitra
“a beloved friend”
>99% girls
Sujata
“born of noble parents” · “from a good social class”
>99% girls
Sushma
“a beautiful woman”
>99% girls
Amita
“without limits; unmeasurable” · “a dear friendship”
>99% girls
Smita
“one who smiles a lot”
>99% girls
Sweta
“a light-skinned woman; fair”
>99% girls
Lalita
“a playful and charming woman”
>99% girls
Shamita
“a peacemaker”
>99% girls