Meaning & Origin
In Latin, Rita is derived from the name Mara, meaning 'bitter'. However, in Christianity, it is believed to have evolved from the name of the Saint Mara or St. Mary Magdalene, who was often represented as holding a pearl, symbolizing her tears and her conversion from a sinful life. In this sense, Rita can be seen as a symbol of redemption and renewal.
Spiritual meaning
Symbolizes redemption and renewal.
Language details
Rita
Rita means pearl or precious stone, a symbol of purity and innocence
Pronunciation & Numerology
Pronunciation
REE-tah
/ˈriːtə/
Lucky number
3
Lucky day
Thursday
Lucky colors
Life path
6
Lucky stone
Amethyst
Cultural & Spiritual notes
Rita is a popular given name in many Christian countries, including Portugal, Spain, and Italy. In the English-speaking world, it gained traction in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. A famous bearer of this name is Rita Hayworth, an American actress and dancer who was a major Hollywood star during the 1940s and 1950s.
In Christianity, Rita is often associated with the faith, patience, and hope as embodied in Saint Rita of Cascia. Born in the 1300s, she is remembered as a model of perseverance and forgiveness: she was married three times, each marriage filled with hardships, and endured numerous trials and tribulations throughout her life. Her feast day is celebrated on May 22, and she is often depicted carrying a long-stemmed rose - an symbol of the suffering and how it leads to sweetness. Thus, the name Rita also carries a spiritual meaning of resilience and redemption.
Historical references
According to Catholic tradition, Saint Rita of Cascia is the patron saint of impossible causes. Born in the late 13th or early 14th century in Rita de Cascia, Italy, she was married to a man who was violent and abusive. After his death, she joined an Augustinian monastery and dedicated her life to prayer and penance. She is said to have brought rain to a drought-stricken region by carrying a thorn in her side as a sign of her suffering. She died in 1457.
Late 13th or early 14th century - 1457
Saint Rita of Seville, also known as Rita of Cascia to distinguish her from the more famous Italian saint, was a Visigothic noblewoman who lived in the 5th century in what is now Spain. She was married against her will to a man who was already married, and when he died, she entered a convent. She is known for her patience and her miracles, including one in which she caused a dead child to come back to life. She is the patron saint of difficult marriages and of lost causes.
5th century
Notable people with this name
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