Benita: Name Popularity, History & Rankings (1880

Rank 2025

#8,953

among girls · ↑2,325 vs 2024

Babies in 2025

named Benita

How common

1 in 146,115

girls born in 2025

Peak year

1961

480 babies

All-time total

13,669

#1,371 all-time among girls

First recorded

1889

in Social Security records

Benita popularity over time

13,669 babies have been named Benita since 1889, according to official Social Security records. Switch measure to see births per year or the yearly rank.

Measure

Births per 1,000 babies of that sex, comparable across eras

By decade. Change compares yearly averages, so the current partial decade is on equal footing. Best rank is the name's best yearly rank within the decade.

Decade	Girls	Per year	Change	Best rank
1880s	5	1	–	#1,305
1890s	46	5	+820%	#1,106
1900s	92	9	+100%	#1,019
1910s	422	42	+359%	#790
1920s	668	67	+58%	#747
1930s	1,069	107	+60%	#553
1940s	1,117	112	+4%	#607
1950s	2,889	289	+159%	#489
1960s	3,720	372	+29%	#445
1970s	1,771	177	-52%	#606
1980s	949	95	-46%	#1,093
1990s	474	47	-50%	#1,846
2000s	221	22	-53%	#4,396
2010s	149	15	-33%	#5,734
2020s (to 2025)	77	13	-14%	#5,986

The story of Benita

Benita is rare for girls in the United States, ranked #8,953 in 2025 with 11 babies given the name. It is currently declining compared with a decade ago.

Since 1889, 13,669 American babies have been named Benita. Its peak came in 1961, when 480 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1960s.

The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Benita stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Benita?

The median living Benita is about 61 years old; half are between 51 and 68. An estimated 10 thousand people named Benita are alive in the United States today.

Estimated from births per year and Social Security period life tables; an approximation of the living age distribution, by age in years.

Benita year by year

Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.

Year	Girls	Girls rank
2025	11	#8,953
2024	8	#11,278
2023	15	#7,306
2022	12	#8,620
2021	20	#5,986
2020	11	#9,047
2019	13	#8,207
2018	11	#9,253
2017	12	#8,882
2016	14	#8,062
2015	22	#5,866
2014	15	#7,723
2013	11	#9,711
2012	23	#5,734
2011	11	#9,827
2010	17	#7,262
2009	22	#6,134
2008	18	#7,120
2007	25	#5,557
2006	20	#6,398
2005	21	#5,833
2004	21	#5,781
2003	16	#6,934
2002	28	#4,396
2001	23	#5,034
2000	27	#4,420
1995	46	#2,653
1990	62	#2,103
1985	93	#1,382
1980	126	#1,097
1975	161	#833
1970	286	#606
1965	377	#487
1960	475	#447
1955	315	#521
1950	190	#606
1945	88	#804
1940	79	#797
1935	124	#578
1930	78	#801
1925	56	#996
1920	57	#969
1915	49	#946
1910	19	#1,001
1905	14	#1,019
1900	9	#1,330
1895	–	–
1890	6	#1,225
1885	–	–
1880	–	–

Famous people named Benita

The most globally famous bearers of the name, ranked by fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).

1 Benita Ferrero-Waldner Austrian diplomat and politician b. 1948 · Contemporary
2 Benita Fitzgerald-Brown American hurdler (born 1961) Contemporary

Portraits from Wikipedia (Wikimedia Commons).

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers about Benita, drawn from the same Social Security data as the charts above.

How old is the average Benita?

The median living Benita is about 61 years old. Half of all living Benitas are between 51 and 68 years old.

How many people named Benita are alive today?

An estimated 10 thousand people named Benita are alive in the United States, based on 13,669 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

What does the name Benita mean?

A female given name from Spanish.

How popular is the name Benita in 2025?

Benita ranked #8,953 among girls' names in the United States in 2025, with 11 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.

How many people are named Benita?

13,669 babies have been named Benita in the United States since 1889, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Benita most popular?

Benita peaked in 1961, when 480 newborns received the name.

Is Benita a boy or girl name?

Benita is overwhelmingly a girl's name: 100% of babies with the name.

Is the name Benita rising or falling?

Benita is declining, less popular now than a decade ago.

Who are famous people named Benita?

Well-known people named Benita include Benita Ferrero-Waldner (politician), Benita Fitzgerald-Brown (athlete).

Names like Benita

Names that sound and feel close to Benita: shared sounds, similar era, similar popularity. Each links to its full history.

Compare Benita with similar names → More names starting with B →