Rita is a female name, often a name in its own right, but mostly a shortened version of

Margarita A margarita is a cocktail consisting of tequila, triple sec, and lime juice. Some margarita recipes include simple syrup as well and are often served with salt on the rim of the glass. Margaritas can be served either shaken with ice (on the rock ...

. The feast day of Rita is generally celebrated on May 22 in honor of Saint

Rita of Cascia Rita of Cascia, OSA (born Margherita Ferri Lotti; 1381 – 22 May 1457), was an Italian widow and Augustinian nun. After Rita's husband died, she joined a small community of nuns, who later became Augustinians, where she was known both for pr ...

In media and entertainment

In film, television and theater

Rita Rani Ahuja Rita Rani Ahuja is an American actress and producer. She is best known for directing ''Bombay Skies'' and voicing Alexandrite on the Cartoon Network television series ''Steven Universe''. Awards and nominations Ahuja's short film ''Bombay Skies' ...

(born 1978), American actress *

Rita Avila Rita Ávila (born September 20, 1964) is a Filipino actress and author. Career She is a critically acclaimed film actress whose movies such as ''Stella Magtanggol'' (1992) and ''Tatlo, Magkasalo'' (1998) and ''The Flor Contemplacion Story'' (1 ...

(born 1964), Filipina actress *

Rita Azevedo Gomes Rita Azevedo Gomes (born in 1952) is a Portuguese Film director, filmmaker. Filmography * ''O Som da Terra a Tremer'' (1990) * ''O cinema vai ao teatro'' (1996) * ''King Arthur'' (1996) * ''Intromissoes'' (1998) * ''25 de abril'' (1999) * ''Fr ...

(born 1952), Portuguese film director *

Rita Batata Rita Batata (born January 2, 1986) is a Brazilian actress. Biography Rita Batata has been active since the age of 16, working in theater, film and television. She graduated in Performing Arts from the INDAC Course of Actors. Her debut in the ...

(born 1986), Brazilian actress * Rita Bell (1893-1992), American singer, entertainer *

Rita Bhaduri Rita Bhaduri (4 November 1955 – 17 July 2018) was an Indian film and television actress. she has also worked in Gujarati cinema. She is sometimes mistaken for Rita Bhaduri, sister of actress Jaya Bachchan and wife of actor Rajeev Verma. C ...

(1955–2018), Indian actress *

Rita Blanco Rita Blanco (born 11 January 1963) is a Portuguese actress. She has appeared in more than 50 films and television shows since 1983. She starred in the film '' Get a Life'', which was screened in the Un Certain Regard section at the 2001 Cannes Fi ...

(born 1963), Portuguese actress *

Rita Buzzar Rita Buzzar is a Brazilian screenwriter and film producer founderhttp://www.boxbrazil.tv.br/PrimePersonalidade.aspx?p=7105 Founder of Nexus Cinema in 1987 of Nexus Cinema e video. Biography Rita Buzzar is a screenwriter, film producer, and ...

, Brazilian film producer * Rita Calderoni (born 1951), Italian actress *

Rita Camarneiro Ana Rita Camarneiro Mendes (born 15 January 1988) is a Portuguese comedian and TV presenter. Career She started her career in television at Rádio e Televisão de Portugal, the public service broadcasting organisation of Portugal. There, she di ...

(born 1988), Portuguese comedian and TV presenter * Rita Carewe (1909–1955), American actress *

Rita Christiani Rita Christiani (1917-2008) was a Trinidad-born American dancer who appeared in American films during the 1940s. Biography Christiani was born in Port of Spain, Trinidad on December 22, 1917. She danced and toured with the Katherine Dunham Co ...

(1917–2008), Trinidad-born African-American dancer *

Rita Cléos Rita Cleós (née Rita Schadrack; sometimes credited as Rita Cleoci; Blumenau, September 29, 1931 – Curitiba, April 25, 1988) was a Brazilian film, stage, and voice actress. She appeared in films such as ''Esquina da Ilusão'' (1953), ''É P ...

(1931–1988), Brazilian actress * Rita Clermont (1894–1969), German actress *

Rita Corday Rita Corday (born Jeanne Paule Teipo-Ite-Marma Croset; October 20, 1920 – November 23, 1992) was an American actress. She appeared in 30 films during the 1940s and 1950s. She was sometimes billed as Paula Corday or Paule Croset. Biography ...

(1920–1992), American actress *

Rita Cortese Adela Rita Cortese (born 5 August 1949) is an Argentine theatre, film, and television actress and singer. She is considered one of the best actresses of Argentina. Life and career Cortese was born in Buenos Aires on 5 August 1949. She is of Span ...

(born 1949), Argentine actress *

Rita Dominic Rita Uchenna Nkem Dominic Nwaturuocha (born 12 July 1975) is a Nigerian actress. In 2012, Dominic won the Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role. Early life Rita Dominic is a multiple award-winning Nollywood actress, ...

(born 1975), Nigerian actress *

Rita Durão Rita Durão (born 21 January 1976 in Lisbon) is a Portuguese actress. She has appeared in more than thirty films since 1996. Selected filmography Awards *Shooting Stars Award The Shooting Stars Awards are presented annually by the pan-Europea ...

(born 1976), Portuguese actress *

Rita Dutta Chakraborty Rita Dutta Chakraborty is a Bengali film and television actress. She has acted in movies like Krantikaal, Alo. She played the role of ''Aarati'' in Star Jalsha Star Jalsha is an Indian Bengali language general entertainment pay televisio ...

, Bengali film and TV actress *

Rita Edochie Rita Edochie (born 16 April 1964) is a Nigerian film actress. Early life and education Rita Edochie is from Anambra State, in the southeast region of Nigeria, and is Igbo. In 2016, she revealed that she was sexually assaulted in primary schoo ...

, Nigerian actress *

Rita Flynn Rita Flynn (born Edith Flynn; August 16, 1905 – December 31, 1973) was an American film actress. She is known for starring in Fatty Arbuckle comedies and for appearing alongside James Cagney and Jean Harlow in ''The Public Enemy'' (1931) ...

(1905–1973), American actress *

Rita Gam Rita Gam (born Rita Eleanore MacKay, April 2, 1927 – March 22, 2016) was an American film and television actress and documentary filmmaker. She won the Silver Bear for Best Actress. Background Gam was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the da ...

(1927–2016), American actress *

Rita Gardner Rita Gardner ( Schier; October 23, 1934 – September 24, 2022) was an American actress and singer. Career Gardner made her stage debut Off-Broadway in Jerry Herman's musical review ''Nightcap'' (1958) before her breakout turn as Luisa in the ...

(1934–2022), American actress and singer *

Rita Gould Rita Gould (August 8, 1890 – March 15, 1981) was an American singer and actress, born in Odessa. She performed in vaudeville in the 1920s, and in American films in the 1930s and 1940s. She was also known for her costumes and for the hats she m ...

(1890–1981), American actress *

Rita Guedes Rita de Cássia de Sousa Guedes (born 2 January 1972) is a Brazilian actress. Biography At 14 Rita joined the theater group Roda Viva, which is developed and presented their work at the Teatro Municipal Catanduva, under the direction of Tabaj ...

(born 1972), Brazilian actress * Rita W. Harlan, American actress *

Rita Hayek Rita Elie Hayek (; born 9 October 1987) is a Lebanese actress and television presenter. Biography Hayek studied acting at the National Institute Of Fine Arts (or INBA) at the Lebanese University. In 2011, she took acting courses at the Stella Ad ...

(born 1987), Lebanese actress and TV presenter *

Rita Hayworth Rita Hayworth (born Margarita Carmen Cansino; October 17, 1918May 14, 1987) was an American actress, dancer, and Pin-up model, pin-up girl. She achieved fame in the 1940s as one of the top stars of the Classical Hollywood cinema, Golden Age of ...

(1918–1987), American actress * Rita

Sririta Jensen Sririta Jensen Narongdej (; born 27 October 1981 in Tanjung Priok, Jakarta, Indonesia) is a Thai actress and model. Biography Sririta Jensen was born in 1981 in Jakarta. She had a Danish father and a Chinese-Thai mother. Jensen's career began wi ...

(born 1981), Thai model and actress *

Rita Jolivet Marguerite Lucile Jolivet (25 September 1884 – 2 March 1971), known professionally as Rita Jolivet, was a British actress in theatre and silent films in the early 20th century. She was known in private life as the Countess Marguerita de ...

(1884–1971), American-British actress *

Rita Karin Rita Karin (born Rita Karpinowicz; October 24, 1919 – September 10, 1993) was a Polish-born American actress best known for her role as Jackie Mason's mother on the 1989 TV series ''Chicken Soup''. She also appeared as Meryl Streep's Brook ...

(1919–1993), American actress *

Rita Koiral Rita Koiral or Rita Kayral (3 July 1959 – 19 November 2017) was an Indian Bengali actress, known for her television and film roles. She appeared in several soap opera roles, often as villains and often opposite Monami Ghosh. Directors she ...

(1959–2017), Indian actress *

Rita La Roy Rita La Roy (born Ina La Roi Stuart; October 2, 1901 – February 18, 1993) was an American actress and dancer, beginning her career in 1929, and having her last significant role in 1940. Career La Roy appeared in over 50 films, the best k ...

(1901–1993), American actress *

Rita Lafontaine Rita Lafontaine (8 June 1939 – 4 April 2016) was a Canadian theatre, film, and television actor. Born in Trois-Rivières, Quebec. She has been described as the muse of playwright Michel Tremblay and director André Brassard. Her career span ...

(1939–2016), Canadian actress *

Rita Livesi Rita Livesi (4 March 1915 – 30 April 1989) was a Sardinian film actress. She is known for ''Amore amaro'' (1974), ''Il berretto a sonagli'' (1985) and ''La ragazza del vagone letto'' (1979). Livesi died in Rome on 30 April 1989, at the age of ...

(born 1915), Italian film and stage actress *

Rita Lobo Rita Landers (née Lobo; born 2 January 1944) is an Indian former actress and singer, best known for her debut leading role in the Konkani cinema, Konkani film ''Amchem Noxib'' (1963). Having been discovered by filmmaker Frank Fernand and film ...

(born 1944), Indian actress and singer *

Rita Luna Rita Luna (1770–1832), was a Spanish stage actress An actor (masculine/gender-neutral), or actress (feminine), is a person who portrays a character in a production. The actor performs "in the flesh" in the traditional medium of the theatre ...

(1770–1832), Spanish stage actress *

Rita Macedo Rita Macedo (April 21, 1925 – December 5, 1993) was a Mexican actress and dressmaker. She was nominated for an Ariel Award for her 1956 performance in "Ensayo de un crimen" and in 1991 for a TVyNovelas Prize for "Alcanzar una estrella". She w ...

(1925–1993), Mexican actress *

Rita May (actress) Rita May (born 9 May 1942) is an English actress. She is known for her roles as Mags in the ITV children's drama ''Children's Ward'', Margaret in the Sky One sitcom ''Trollied'', as well as Julie "Nana" Booth in the Channel 4 drama ''Ackley B ...

(born 1942), British actress *

Rita Moreira Rita Moreira (born 1944, São Paulo) is a Brazilian filmmaker, journalist and writer. Her documentaries are known for focusing on social issues, usually emphasizing members of society on the margins of large urban centers. The themes of her films ...

(born 1944), Brazilian film director *

Rita Moreno Rita Moreno (born Rosa Dolores Alverío Marcano; December 11, 1931) is an American actress, dancer, and singer. With a career spanning eight decades she is known for her roles on stage and screen, and is one of the last remaining stars from t ...

(born 1931), Puerto Rican-born American actress *

Rita Morley Rita Morley (born Rita Imogene Gann; October 10, 1927 – June 28, 1997) was an American actor in television, on radio, and on Broadway. Early life Rita Imogene Gann was born in West Hartford, Connecticut, to Harry Gann and Minnie Minerva Sybil ...

(1927–1997), American actress * Rita Nzelu, Nigerian actress *

Rita Paul Rita Brigitte Paul (2 December 1928 in Berlin Berlin ( ; ) is the Capital of Germany, capital and largest city of Germany, by both area and List of cities in Germany by population, population. With 3.7 million inhabitants, it has the List o ...

(1928–2021), German actress * Rita Polster (born 1948), Finnish film actress *

Rita Quigley Rita Allene Quigley (March 31, 1923 – August 25, 2008) was an American actress. Career A visit to the commissary of Universal Pictures in 1939 led to Quigley's film career. She was seen by producer Joe Pasternak as she ate lunch with her mot ...

(1923–2008), American actress *

Rita Raave Rita Raave (born 6 April 1951) is an Estonian stage, television and film actress, and painter. Early life and education Rita Raave was born in Mõisaküla, Viljandi County in 1951 to journalist, cartoonist, Lutheran pastor, and politician Kale ...

(born 1951), Estonian actress *

Rita Ramnani Rita Ramnani (born 21 December 1981) is a British actress and dancer known for her roles in '' The Hunt for Gollum'', '' Jack Says'' and '' Umbrage''. She holds a post-graduate degree in Classical Acting from London Academy of Music and Dramatic ...

(born 1981), British actress and dancer *

Rita Ratnayake Rita Philomina Ratnayake (18 February 1934 – 6 November 2006 රීටා රත්නායක) was an actress in Sri Lankan cinema. She became very popular in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s early Sinhala cinema particularly with the role 'D ...

(1934–2006), Sri Lankan Sinhala cinema actress *

Rita Rätsepp Rita Rätsepp (born 17 July 1962) is an Estonian actress and psychologist whose career began in the mid-1980s. She has performed on onstage, in television and in motion pictures. Early life and education Rita Rätsepp was born in rural Lääne-Vi ...

(born 1962), Estonian actress *

Rita Renoir Rita Renoir (19 January 1934 – 4 May 2016) was a French strip-teaser and actress. Biography Renoir was the Vedette of the Crazy Horse Saloon, in Paris, between the 1950s and 1960s, becoming one of the most famous European strip-teasers. In 1 ...

(1934–2016), French strip-teaser and actress *

Rita Roland Rita Roland (born Rita Rosenstein) was a prolific German-born film editor known for her work on German and American films like '' Six Pack'', '' The New Kids'', and '' Good Luck, Miss Wyckoff''. Biography Rita Rosenstein was born in Germany to ...

(1914–1998), American film director * Rita Romilly Benson (1900–1980), American actress and acting teacher *

Rita Rudner Rita Rudner (born September 17, 1953) is an American comedian. Beginning her career as a Broadway dancer, Rudner noticed the lack of female comedians in New York City and turned to stand-up comedy, where she has performed for over three decades. ...

(born 1956), American comedian and writer *

Rita Rusić Rita Rusić (, ; born 16 May 1960), also known as Rita Cecchi Gori, is a Croatian-born Italian producer, actress and singer. Rusić's career began as an actress with a major role in the 1982 film '' Attila flagello di Dio''. She was eventually m ...

(born 1960), Croatian producer, actress and singer * Rita Sacchetto (1880–1959), German dancer, actress and screenwriter *

Rita Savagnone Rita Savagnone (born 19 September 1939) is an Italian actress and voice actress. Biography Born in Rome to Giuseppe Savagnone and Rosella Marraffa and the younger sister of voice actress Deddi Savagnone, She began her acting career at some point ...

, Italian film actress *

Rita Sever Rita Sever is an American television hostess and actress. Life and career Sever was born on November 7, 1963 in San Francisco, California. She is the youngest of seven children. She is best known as the host of the NBC late-night series ''Fri ...

(born 1963), American television hostess and actress *

Rita Simons Rita Joanne Simons (born 10 March 1977) is an English actress and singer. After beginning her career as a member of the short-lived girl group Girls@Play, she became best known for portraying the role of Roxy Mitchell in the BBC soap opera ''Ea ...

(born 1977), English actress and singer *

Rita Taggart Rita Taggart is an American film and television actress. She is known for playing Carla Bouvier on ''Night Court''. Biography Taggart was the third wife of cinematographer Haskell Wexler from 1989 until his death at age 93 in 2015. On televisio ...

(born 1947), American actress *

Rita Tushingham Rita Tushingham (born 14 March 1942) is an English actress. She is known for her starring roles in films including '' A Taste of Honey'' (1961), '' The Leather Boys'' (1964), '' The Knack ...and How to Get It'' (1965), '' Doctor Zhivago'' (1965 ...

(born 1942), English actress * Rita Verreos (born 1968), Venezuelan TV personality, actress and model *

Rita Volk Margarita Volkovinskaya (, born September 3, 1990), known professionally as Rita Volk, is an Uzbekistani-American actress. She is known for her role as Amy Raudenfeld in the MTV romantic comedy series ''Faking It (2014 TV series), Faking It''. ...

(born 1990), American actress * Rita Walter (1951–2022), American actress *

Rita Webb Olive Rita Webb (25 February 1904 – 30 August 1981), later known as Olive Rita Thompson, was an English character actress, mainly in comedy roles. She was the eldest child of Henry Augustus Webb (1880–1926) and Rose Jeannette Keysor. She had ...

(1904–1981), English actress *

Rita Wilson Margarita Wilson Hanks (born Margarita Ibrahimoff; October 26, 1956) is an American actress, singer, and producer. Her film appearances include ''Volunteers'' (1985), ''Sleepless in Seattle'' (1993), '' Now and Then'' (1995), '' That Thing You D ...

(born 1956), American actress, singer, and producer *

Rita Wolf Rita Wolf (born Rita Ghose) is an American British actress born in Kolkata, India. Recipient of a Beinecke Fellowship at The David Geffen School of Drama at Yale College in 2024 where she appeared in Caryl Churchill’s play “ Escaped Alone� ...

(born 1960), British actress

In journalism and literature

* Rita de Acosta Lydig (1875–1929), American novelist * Rita Akoto Coker, American novelist * Rita Banerji, Indian author, photographer and activist *

Rita Barisse Rita Barisse (12 May 1917 – 25 April 2001) was a British journalist, writer and translator. She was the second wife of the writer Jean Bruller, also known as Vercors, and collaborated with him on works released under that pen name. Biography ...

(1917–2001), British journalist, writer and translator * Rita Boumi-Pappa (1906–1984), Greek poet, translator and writer *

Rita Bouvier Rita Bouvier is a Métis educator and poet. Her poetry mixes English with Cree and Michif words and phrases. Life Bouvier was born in 1950 in Île-à-la-Crosse (Sakitawak), Saskatchewan, where she lived until moving to Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, whe ...

(born 1950), Métis educator and poet * Rita Bradshaw (born 1949), British romance novelist * Rita Brantalou (1948–2021), French humorist *

Rita Braver Rita Braver (born April 12, 1948) is an American retired television news correspondent, who worked with CBS News, and who is best known for her investigative journalism of White House scandals such as the Iran-Contra affair. __NOTOC__ Biography ...

(born 1948), American journalist *

Rita Mae Brown Rita Mae Brown (born November 28, 1944) is an American feminist writer, best known for her coming-of-age autobiographical novel, '' Rubyfruit Jungle''. Brown was active in a number of civil rights campaigns and criticized the marginalization of l ...

(born 1944), American writer and activist *

Rita Celli Rita Celli (born 1969 in Sudbury, Ontario) is a Canadian radio journalist, who was the host of '' Ontario Today'' on CBC Radio One's stations in Ontario from 2006 to 2023. Born and raised in Sudbury, Ontario, she graduated from Carleton Univers ...

(born 1969), Canadian radio journalist * Rita Chowdhury, Indian writer * Rita Ciresi, American novelist *

Rita Cosby Rita Cosby (born November 18, 1964) is an American television news anchor for Fox, MSNBC and NewsMax, as well as a best selling author. She is a host on the two-hour news show ''Saturday Report'' on Newsmax and a special correspondent for the ...

(born 1964), American journalist *

Rita Cox Rita Marjorie Cox (born 1929 or 1930) is a storyteller, community leader and retired librarian based in Toronto, Ontario. As the head of the Parkdale, Toronto, Parkdale branch of the Toronto Public Library, she pioneered services that promoted ...

(born 1929/1930), librarian and storyteller *

Rita Demeester Rita Bertha Maria Demeester (26 September 1946 – 29 January 1993) was a Belgium, Belgian poet and writer. Biography She was born at Roeselare. She obtained a degree in social pedagogy from the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Catholic Univers ...

(1946–1993), Belgian poet and writer *

Rita Deverell Rita Shelton Deverell (born 1945 to Versie and Hugh Shelton) is a Canadian television broadcaster and social activist, who was one of the founders of the Canadian television channel Vision TV. She also served as news director for the Aboriginal ...

(born 1945), Canadian journalist *

Rita Dove Rita Frances Dove (born August 28, 1952) is an American poet and essayist. From 1993 to 1995, she served as United States Poet Laureate, Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress. She is the first African American to have bee ...

(born 1952), American poet *

Rita Clay Estrada Rita Clay Estrada (born July 31, 1941, in Michigan, United States) is an American writer of romance novels, which she publishes under the names Rita Clay, Tira Lacy and Rita Clay Estrada. She has also written non-fiction books about writing rom ...

(born 1941), romance novelist *

Rita Ferro (writer) Rita Ferro (born 1955) is a Portuguese writer, journalist, playwright and teacher. Early life Rita Maria Roquette de Quadros Ferro Ochôa was born on 26 February 1955 in the Portuguese capital of Lisbon, the daughter of writer and philosopher a ...

(born 1955), Portuguese novelist, writer and journalist * Rita Gabbai-Simantov, Greek Ladino-language poet and writer * Rita Gallagher (1921–2004), American novelist * Rita von Gaudecker (1879–1968), German author * Rita Golden Gelman (born 1937), American writer * Rita Guibert (1916–2007), American author, journalist, editor, researcher and translator * Rita Ann Higgins, Irish writer * Rita Joe (1932–2007), Mi’kmaq poet * Rita Kelly (born 1953), Irish poet * Rita Kerr (1925–2017), American author * Rita Kogan, Hebrew author and translator * Rita Kothari (born 1969), Indian author and translator * Rita Kuczynski (born 1944), German author, philosopher and editorialist * Rita Marshall (1934–2008), English journalist and editor * Rita Mestokosho (born 1966), Canadian Innu writer andpoet * Rita Carla Francesca Monticelli (born 1974), Italian author * Rita Mulcahy (died 2010), author and public speaker * Rita Mulier, Belgian feminist author and economist * Rita Panahi, American-Iranian Australian opinion columnist * Rita Rait-Kovaleva (1898–1988), Soviet translator and writer * Rita Reif (1929–2023), American columnist and author * Rita Mae Reese, American poet * Rita Sebastian (died 1996), Sri Lankan journalist * Rita Shell (1863–1950), British magazine editor * Rita Tainola (born 1954), Finnish reporter * Rita Tornborg (born 1926), Swedish novelist and short story writer * Rita Vorperian, Syrian-born American journalist and writer * Rita Weiman (1885–1954), American screenwriter * Rita Williams-Garcia (born 1957), American writer of novels * Rita Wong (born 1968), Canadian poet

In music

* Rita (Indian singer) (born 1984), stage name of Rita Thyagarajan, an Indian playback singer * Rita (Israeli singer) (born 1962), stage name of Rita Yahan-Farouz Kleinstein, Persian-born Israeli singer and actress * Rita (Japanese singer), Japanese voice actress, singer, and lyricist * Rita Abatzi (1914–1969), Greek singer * Rita Abrams (born 1943), American musical artist * Rita Bouboulidi (1926–2014), Greek pianist * Rita Brondi (1889–1941), Italian composer * Rita la Cantaora (1859–1937), Spanish singer * Rita Carpio (born 1965), Hong Kong Cantopop singer * Rita Chiarelli, Canadian blues singer * Rita Comisi (born 1985), Italian singer * Rita Connolly, Irish musical artist * Rita Coolidge (born 1945), American singer * Rita Damásio (born 1978), Portuguese singer * Rita De Guzman, Rita Daniela (born 1995), Filipina singer, actress and television host * Rita Deneve (1944–2018), Belgian singer * Rita Dev, Hindustani classical singer * Rita Engedalen (born 1971), Norwegian musician and songwriter * Rita Eriksen (born 1966), Norwegian singer * Rita Fornia (1878–1922), American soprano * Rita Gabussi (1810–1891), Italian opera singer * Rita Ganguly, Indian classical arts * Rita Gorr (1926–2012), Belgian operatic mezzo-soprano * Rita Guerra (born 1967), Portuguese singer * Rita Guerrero (1964–2011), Mexican artist * Rita Hosking (born 1969), American singer-songwriter * Rita Hunter (1933–2001), British operatic dramatic soprano * Rita Indiana (born 1977), Dominican writer and singer-songwriter * Rita Johns, Canadian pop and rhythm and blues singer * Rita Kapfhammer, German opera, operetta, concert and Lieder mezzo-soprano * Rita Kassabian, Armenian composer * Rita Keane (1922–2009), Irish singer and accordionist * Rita Kinka (born 1962), Serbian pianist * Rita Lawrence (1911–2001), British pianist and singer * Rita Lee (1947–2023), Brazilian musician * Rita Lynch, English singer-songwriter * Rita MacNeil (1944–2013), Canadian country and folk singer * Rita Marcotulli (born 1959), Italian jazz pianist and composer * Rita Marley (born 1946), Jamaican singer and widow of Bob Marley * Rita Mills (1935–2004), Australian musical artist * Rita Montaner (1900–1958), Cuban musician * Rita Montero (1927–2013), Argentine musical artist * Rita Moss (1918–2015), American jazz musician * Rita Ora (born 1990), British singer-songwriter * Rita Orlandi-Malaspina (1937–2017), Italian operatic soprano * Rita Pavone (born 1945), Italian singer * Rita Payés (born 1999), Spanish jazz musician * Rita Porfiris (born 1969), American violinist and arranger * Rita Redshoes (born 1981), Portuguese singer-songwriter * Rita Reys (1924–2013), Dutch jazz singer * Rita Rose (born 1947), Indian singer and actress * Rita Sakellariou (1934–1999), Greek singer * Rita Shane (1936–2014), American soprano *

(born 1977), English actress and singer * Rita Springer (born 1967), American Christian musician * Rita Steblin (1951–2019), Canadian musicologist * Rita Streich (1920–1987), operatic soprano * Rita Strohl (1865–1941), French musical artist * Rita Thyagarajan (born 1984), Indian singer * Rita Vidaurri (1924–2019), American rehabs singer * Rita Wolfensberger (1928–2020), Swiss classical pianist

In visual arts

* Rita Ackermann (born 1968), Hungarian-American artist * Rita Angus (1908–1970), New Zealand painter * Rita Asfour (1933–2021), American modern artist * Rita Blitt (born 1931), American artist * Rita Boley Bolaffio (1898–1995), Italian artist * Rita Briansky (1925–2025), Canadian painter * Rita Carvalho, Portuguese artist * Rita Deanin Abbey, American artist and educator * Rita Donagh (born 1939), British artist * Rita Duffy, Northern Ireland artist * Rita Genet, American-born artist * Rita Grosse-Ruyken (born 1948), German artist * Rita Keegan, American-British artist and archivist * Rita Kernn-Larsen (1904–1998), Danish surrealist painter * Rita Kersting, German art historian and curator * Rita Letendre (1928–2021), Canadian artist * Rita Longa (1912–2000), Cuban sculptor * Rita McBride (born 1960), American artist and sculptor * Rita McKeough, Canadian interdisciplinary artist * Rita Mount (1885–1967), Canadian painter * Rita Myers, American artist * Rita Phillips, British sculptor and artist * Rita Rohlfing, German painter, photographer and installation artist * Rita Winkler (artist), Canadian artist

Fictional characters

* Rita, a female cat in the show ''Animaniacs'' * Rita, in the franchise ''Jungledyret Hugo'' * Rita, a Saluki dog in Disney film ''Oliver & Company'' * Rita Bennett, in the TV series ''Dexter (TV series), Dexter'' and the novels by Jeff Lindsay (writer), Jeff Lindsay on which the series is based * Rita Mora Castro, Zoe Saldaña's character in ''Emilia Pérez'' * Rita Desjardin, from the book ''Carrie (novel), Carrie'' * Rita Foster, in the film ''Cypher (film), Cypher'' * Rita Hanson, in the film Groundhog Day (film), ''Groundhog Day'' (as well as the musical of the same name) * Rita Kaniska (aka Papillon Ohger), a character in ''Ohsama Sentai King-Ohger'' * Rita Loud, in the TV series ''The Loud House'' * Rita Malone, a female rat in the film ''Flushed Away'' * Rita Mordio, in ''Tales of Vesperia'' * Rita Repulsa, a villain in the TV series ''Mighty Morphin Power Rangers'' * Rita Skeeter, in the ''Harry Potter'' franchise * Rita Stapleton, in the TV series ''The Guiding Light'' * Rita Sullivan, in the British soap opera ''Coronation Street'' * Rita or Susan White, in ''Educating Rita'' * Rita, a.k.a. Rika Sasaki, from the Japanese anime series ''Cardcaptor Sakura''/''Cardcaptors'' * Rita Torres, in the TV series ''Exosquad'' * Rita, a little girl in the series ''Jelly Jamm'' * Rita, the head girl in the first books of the series ''The Naughtiest Girl'' * Rita Rossweisse, from ''Honkai Impact 3rd'' * "Lovely Rita," in The Beatles song ''Lovely Rita'' on their 1967 album, Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band

In government and politics

* Rita of Armenia (1278–1333), Empress of Byzantium * Rita Agbo Ayim, Nigerian politician * Rita Albrecht, public servant * Rita Ali, mayor of Peoria, Illinois * Rita Allison (born 1940), American politician * Rita Aragon (born 1947), United States Air Force general * Rita Atukwasa, Ugandan politician * Rita Bahuguna Joshi (born 1949), Indian politician and member of parliament * Rita Baranwal, Assistant Secretary of Energy for Nuclear Energy, USA * Rita Barberá (1948–2016), Spanish politician and mayor of Valencia * Rita Bellens (born 1962), Belgian politician * Rita Benson LeBlanc (born 1977), former Vice Chairman of the Board of the New Orleans Saints * Rita Bernardini (born 1952), Italian politician * Rita Borsellino (1945–2018), Italian politician * Rita Bosaho (born 1965), Spanish politician * Rita Camata (born 1961), Brazilian politician * Rita Campbell, American politician * Rita dalla Chiesa (born 1947), Italian politician * Rita Choudhary, Indian politician * Rita Clark (1915–2008), American politician * Rita Crocker Clements (1931–2018), First Lady of Texas * Rita Crundwell (born 1953), American city comptroller convicted of fraud * Rita C. Davidson (1928–1984), American judge * Rita De Bont (born 1954), Belgian politician * Rita Derrick Hayes, American politician * Rita Dionne-Marsolais (born 1947), Canadian politician * Rita Donaghy, Baroness Donaghy (born 1944), labor politician and life peer * Rita Ellis (politician), first woman mayor of Delray Beach, Florida * Rita María Esquivel Reyes (born 1946), Mexican politician * Rita Fan (born 1945), Hong Kong politician * Rita Fleming, American politician * Rita Fromm (politician) (born 1944), German politician * Rita Garman (born 1943), American judge * Rita Hagl-Kehl (born 1970), German politician * Rita Harris (politician), American politician and activist * Rita Hart (born 1956), American politician * Rita Haugerud (1919–2014), Norwegian politician * Rita Hauser (born 1934), American lawyer * Rita Heard Days (born 1950), American politician * Rita Incerti (born 1961), Australian judge * Rita Inos (1954–2009), Northern Mariana politician * Rita Johnston (born 1935), Canadian politician * Rita Joseph, American politician and educator * Rita Júdice, Portuguese lawyer and politician * Rita Kieber-Beck (born 1958), Deputy Prime Minister of Lichtenstein from 2001 to 2005 * Rita Korankye Ankrah (born 1962), Ghanaian counselor and minister * Rita Lau (born 1953), retired Hong Kong senior government official * Rita Lavelle, American political official and consultant * Rita Law, Maltese politician * Rita F. Lin (born 1978), American judge * Rita Madeira, Portuguese politician * Rita Maestre (born 1988), Spanish politician * Rita Marko (1920–2018), Albanian politician * Rita Martinson (born 1937), American politician * Rita Matias, Portuguese politician * Rita Mattson, American politician * Rita Mayfield, American politician * Rita Mendes, American state legislator * Rita Meyer, American politician * Rita D. Millar, American politician * Rita Montagnana (1895–1979), Italian politician * Rita Naa Odoley Sowah, Ghanaian politician * Rita O'Hare (died 2023), Northern Irish politician * Rita Ottervik (born 1966), Norwegian politician * Rita Potts Parks (born 1962), American politician * Rita Rae, Lady Rae (born 1950), Scottish judge * Rita Rato (born 1983), Portuguese politician * Rita H. Roaldsen (born 1956), Norwegian politician * Rita Saffioti (born 1972), Australian politician * Rita Sahu (born 1971), Indian politician * Rita Sanders, American politician * Rita Sargsyan (1962–2020), First Lady of Armenia * Rita Sarimah Patrick Insol, Malaysian politician * Rita Schwarzelühr-Sutter (born 1962), German politician * Rita Sinon (1943–1989), Kenya-born Seychellois politician * Rita Skjærvik (born 1974), Norwegian politician * Rita Sletner, Norwegian politician * Rita Smart (born 1948), American politician * Rita Süssmuth (born 1937), German politician * Rita Tamašunienė (born 1973), Lithuanian politician * Rita Tani Iddi (born 1949), Ghanaian politician * Rita Tarai, Indian politician * Rita Tveiten (born 1954), Norwegian politician * Rita Verdonk (born 1955), Dutch politician * Rita Verma (born 1953), Indian politician * Rita Walters (1930–2020), American politician

In sport

* Rita Achkina (born 1938), Belarusian cross-country skier * Rita Akaffou (born 1986), Ivorian professional footballer * Rita Akarekor (born 2001), Nigerian footballer * Rita Atik (born 1997), Moroccan tennis player * Rita Behrend, East German canoeist * Rita Bentley (1931–2016), British tennis player * Rita Blankenburg (born 1942), German speed skater * Rita Bludau (born 1942), German rower * Rita Blumenberg (born 1936), German figure skater * Rita Borbás (born 1980), Hungarian handball player * Rita Borók, Hungarian handball player * Rita Borralho (born 1954), Portuguese long-distance runner * Rita Bottiglieri (born 1953), Italian sprinter and pentathlete * Rita Bove, Brazilian footballer * Rita Briggs (1929–1994), American baseball player * Rita Chałubińska, Polish figure skater * Rita Chatterton, American professional wrestling referee * Rita Chikwelu (born 1988), Nigerian footballer * Rita Corrigan, American baseball player * Rita Crockett (born 1957), American volleyball player * Rita Czech-Blasl (1932–2023), German cross-country skier * Rita Dal Monte (born 1961), Italian wheelchair curler and Paralympic * Rita Davar (born 1935), Indian tennis player * Rita Debbarma (born 1995), Indian cricketer * Rita Defauw (born 1963), Belgian rower * Rita Deli (born 1972), Hungarian handball player * Rita Dey, Indian cricketer * Rita Drávucz (born 1980), Hungarian water polo player * Rita Easterling, American basketball player * Rita Fatialofa-Paloto, New Zealand netball and softball player * Rita Fontemanha (born 1993), Portuguese footballer * Rita Gani (born 1977), Malaysian association football referee * Rita Garay (born 1971), Puerto Rican swimmer * Rita Gildemeister (born 1947), German high jumper * Rita Good (born 1951), Swiss alpine skier * Rita Gramignani (born 1943), Italian chess player * Rita Grande (born 1975), Italian tennis player * Rita Grigorian (born 2000), American-Armenian footballer * Rita Guarino (born 1971), Italian footballer and manager * Rita Hendricks (born 1956), U.S.V.I. sprinter * Rita Hernández (born 1969), Spanish handball player * Rita Holmes, English snooker player and dancing teacher * Rita Horky (1937–1987), American basketball player and coach * Rita Hrbacek, Austrian ice hockey administrator * Rita Ináncsi (born 1971), Hungarian heptathlete * Rita Jarvis, British tennis player * Rita Jeptoo (born 1981), Kenyan marathon runner * Rita Jones, Welsh lawn and indoor bowler * Rita de Jong (born 1965), Dutch rower * Rita Kas (born 1956), Hungarian and German chess player * Rita Keller (1933–2005), American baseball player * Rita Keszthelyi (born 1991), Hungarian water polo player * Rita Kirst (born 1950), German high jumper * Rita Kőbán (born 1965), Hungarian canoeist * Rita König (born 1977), German fencer * Rita Köster (born 1960), German handball Kogler * Rita Kovács (born 1970), Hungarian swimmer * Rita Kuti-Kis (born 1978), Hungarian tennis player * Rita Lakatos (born 1999), Hungarian handball player * Rita Larsen (born 1935), Danish swimmer * Rita Leite (born 1997), Luxembourgish footballer * Rita Liliom (born 1986), Hungarian volleyball player * Rita de Luna (1929–1996), Guatemalan equestrian * Rita Marchisio (born 1950), Italian long-distance runner * Rita Mažukelytė (born 1985), Lithuanian footballer * Rita Medrano (born 1990), Mexican swimmer * Rita Méry (born 1984), Hungarian footballer * Rita Meyer (baseball) (1927–1992), American baseball player * Rita Musamali (born 1999), Ugandan cricketer * Rita Nemes (born 1989), Hungarian athlete * Rita Nwadike (born 1974), Nigerian footballer * Rita Oraá (born 1963), Spanish volleyball player * Rita Patel (born 1970), Indian cricketer * Rita Peri (born 1957), Italian gymnast * Rita Pfister (born 1952), Swiss discus thrower * Rita Pichardo (born 1970), Cuban professional tennis player * Rita Pogosova (died 1948), Soviet table tennis player * Rita Pulido (born 1945), Spanish swimmer * Rita Ramanauskaitė (born 1970), Lithuanian javelin thrower * Rita Razmaitė (born 1967), Lithuanian cyclist * Rita Récsei (born 1996), Hungarian race walker * Rita Ridley (1946–2013), English runner * Rita Sanz-Agero (born 1991), Guatemalan modern pentathlete * Rita Saraiva, Congolese handball player * Rita Schönenberger (born 1962), Swiss heptathlete * Rita Schumacher (born 1937), German swimmer * Rita Scott, Jamaican cricketer * Rita Seamon, American bridge player * Rita Sen, Indian sprinter * Rita Shugart, American bridge player * Rita Tamašauskaitė (born 1941), Lithuanian rower * Rita Teixeira (born 1960), Brazilian volleyball player * Rita Thijs (born 1958), Belgian sprinter * Rita Todorova (born 1958), Bulgarian rower * Rita Tower (born 1971), American soccer player * Rita Trapanese (1951–2000), Italian figure skater * Rita Van De Velde (born 1941), Belgian gymnast * Rita Varnienė (born 1973), Lithuanian chess player * Rita Vilaça (born 1993), Portuguese tennis player * Rita Vittadini (1914–2000), Italian athlete * Rita Wilden (born 1947), German sprinter * Rita Williams (born 1976), American basketball player * Rita Williams (footballer) (born 1979), Namibian footballer * Rita Windbrake (born 1945), German athlete * Rita Yeboah (born 1976), Ghanaian footballer * Rita Zeqiri (born 1995), Kosovan swimmer

In other fields

(1381–1457), Italian Augustinian saint * Rita Aciro, Ugandan activist * Rita de Acosta Lydig (1875–1929), American socialite * Rita Akosua Dickson (born 1970), Ghanaian chemist * Rita Akpan (born 1944), Nigerian teacher * Rita Almeida, Portuguese economist * Rita Arditti (1934–2009), Argentine biologist, educator, activist and writer * Rita Arnould, member of the Red Orchestra resistance group * Rita Atria (1974–1992), Italian anti-Mafia witness * Rita Baga (born 1987), Canadian drag queen from Québec * Rita Bake (born 1952), German economic of social historian * Rita Barcelo y Pages (1843–1904), Spanish religious sister * Rita Pitka Blumenstein (1936–2021), Alaska Native healer * Rita Brara Mukhopadhyay, Indian sociologist * Rita Nakashima Brock (born 1950), American scholar and Protestant theologian * Rita Burak (born 1946), Canadian civil servant * Rita Buxton (1896–1982), Australian community worker, activist, racehorse owner and philanthropist * Rita Calvo Sanz (born 1960), Spanish Roman Catholic nun * Rita Carmo, Portuguese photographer * Rita Casadio, professor of biochemistry * Rita Cetina Gutiérrez (1846–1908), Mexican teacher, poet and feminist * Rita Charon, American physician * Rita Childers (1915–2010), Irish press attaché, wife of President Erskine Childers * Rita R. Colwell (born 1934), environmental microbiologist * Rita Nealon Cooley (1919–2006), American political scientist * Rita Cucchiara (born 1965), Italian electrical and computer engineer *

(born 1945), Canadian TV broadcaster and social activist * Rita van Driel (born 1961), Dutch Paralympic board executive * Rita El Khayat, Moroccan physician and writer * Rita Elissaiou Komodiki, Greek Cypriot physician and politician * Rita Fahy, Irish American expert in evacuation modeling and human behavior in fire * Rita Famos (born 1966), Swiss theologian * Rita Felski, American academic * Rita Fernández Queimadelos (1911–2008), Spanish architect * Rita Ferro (diplomat) (born 1953), Portuguese diplomat * Rita Forst (born 1955), German automotive engineer and executive * Rita Gardner (geographer) (born 1955), British geographer and academic * Rita Geier, American civil rights activist * Rita Gerle, American textile worker * Rita Gluzman, Ukrainian-born activist and murderer * Rita K. Gollin (1928–2022), American literature scholar * Rita Gonzalez, American curator, writer and media artist * Rita Goold, British psychic and spiritualist medium * Rita Goulet, American racing driver and police sergeant * Rita Gross (1943–2015), American Buddhist feminist scholar * Rita Gunther McGrath (born 1959), American strategic management scholar * Rita Habib, Iraqi Assyrian woman and victim of ISIL persecution * Rita Harradence (1915–2012), Australian biochemist * Rita May Wilson Harris (1888–1975), Australian community worker * Rita Hazan (born 1974), American hair colorist * Rita Hinden (1909–1971), South African social democratic activist * Rita Horvath, Hungarian neurologist and researcher * Rita Houston (1961–2020), American radio broadcaster * Rita Huggins (1922–1996), Australian indigenous activist * Rita Humphries-Lewin, Jamaican stockbroker and businesswoman * Rita Izsák-Ndiaye, Hungarian diplomat * Rita Jackson Samuels (1945–2018), American women's and civil rights activist * Rita Jaima Paru, Papuan New Guinean food entrepreneur * Rita Jenrette (born 1949), former wife of U.S. Representative John Jenrette * Rita Jordan, autism researcher * Rita Katz, anti-terrorism activist * Rita Kavashe, Kenyan businesswoman and corporate executive * Rita Klímová (1931–1993), Czech diplomat and economist * Rita Kogler Carver (born 1963), American lighting designer, artist director and teacher * Rita Krishnamurthi, New Zealand epidemiologist * Rita Lakin (1930–2023), American dramatist * Rita Leistner, Canadian cinematographer and photographer * Rita Lejeune (1906–2009), Belgian philologist * Rita Lenihan (1914–1989), United States Navy officer * Rita G. Lerner, American physicist and librarian * Rita Levi-Montalcini (1909–2012), Italian-American neurologist * Rita Lobato (1866–1954), Brazilian physician * Rita Lopes de Almeida (1848–1913), Portuguese nun * Rita López de Llergo y Seoane (1904–1979), Mexican geographer * Rita Mae Kelly (1939–2001), American political scientist * Rita Mahato, Nepali women's rights activist * Rita Maiburg (1952–1977), German aviator * Rita Giuliana Mannella, Italian diplomat * Rita Manzini, linguist * Rita Marcalo, Portuguese dancer, choreographer and artistic director * Rita Martin (1875–1958), English photographer * Rita Martinez (1955–2020), American activist * Rita McGhee (born 1964), American costume designer for film and television * Rita Menu, New Zealand drag performer * Rita Miljo (1931–2012), South African conservationist * Rita Nasirumbi, Ugandan commercial pilot * Rita Ndzanga (1933–2022), South African activist * Rita Ng, American beauty pageant titleholder and cardiologist * Rita Nieves, American public health administrator * Rita Nyampinga, Zimbabwean women prisoner campaigner * Rita Orji, Nigerian computer scientist * Rita Ostrovskaya, Ukrainian photographer * Rita Panahi (born 1976), Australian columnist and commentator * Rita Panicker, Indian social worker and writer * Rita Jaima Paru, Papua New Guinean food entrepreneur * Rita Paulsen (born 1977), Tanzanian TV personality * Rita Pérez de Moreno (1779–1861), Mexican insurgent and war heroine * Rita Rapp (1928–1989), American physiologist * Rita F. Redberg, American cardiologist * Rita Reed, American photojournalist and professor * Rita Richey, professor of instructional design * Rita Riggs (1930–2017), American costume designer * Rita Ryack, American costume designer * Rita M. Sambruna, Italian astrophysicist * Rita Sanchez (born 1937), American Chicano studies academic * Rita Sangalli (1849–1909), Italian ballet dancer * Rita Sapiro Finkler (1888–1968), Ukrainian-American physician * Rita Schober (1918–2012), German scholar of Romance studies and literature * Rita Schwerner Bender, civil rights activist and lawyer * Rita Laura Segato (born 1951), Argentine-Brazilian academic * Rita Smith (1912–1993), New Zealand communist and political activist * Rita Smith-Wade-El (1948–2018), American sociologist * Rita Stang (1894–1978), Australian public health doctor * Rita Stephen (1925–2020), British trade unionist * Rita Subowo, Indonesian sport executive * Rita Taketsuru (1896–1961), Scottish-Japanese businesswoman * Rita Tateel (born c. 1951), American businesswoman * Rita Lizzi Testa, Italian late antique historian * Rita Tewari, molecular parasitologist * Rita Thomson (1934–2019), Scottish nurse * Rita Vinieris (born 1964), Canadian fashion designer * Rita Winkler, Canadian hydrologist * Rita P. Wright (born 1936), American anthropologist * Rita Zemach (1926–2015), American statistician * Rita Zucca (1912–1998), World War II propagandist

Animals

* Rita (chimpanzee)

Disambiguation

* Rita Cadillac (disambiguation), Rita Cadillac, multiple people * Rita Johnson (disambiguation), multiple people * Rita Pereira (disambiguation), Rita Pereira, multiple people * Rita Schmidt (disambiguation), Rita Schmidt, multiple people * Rita Wright (disambiguation), Rita Wright, multiple people {{Given name, Rita Arabic-language feminine given names English feminine given names Estonian feminine given names Given names derived from gemstones Latvian feminine given names Italian feminine given names Albanian feminine given names Feminine given names Swedish feminine given names Danish feminine given names Scandinavian feminine given names Icelandic feminine given names Finnish feminine given names Norwegian feminine given names Spanish feminine given names Portuguese feminine given names English-language feminine given names