Fun Facts About the Name Banita
- 96 babies named Banita: U.S. records list 96 babies given the name Banita from 1880 through 2025.
What Does the Name Banita Mean?
Banita is a feminine name used in South Asia, especially in India, meaning "woman" or "lady." It is a variant of Vanita, from the Sanskrit noun vanitā, literally "woman" or "wife." The initial b- corresponds to the v- of the Sanskrit and Hindi form, a common alternation in Indo-Aryan languages and English spellings. As a name, it uses the ordinary noun rather than a separate symbolic interpretation.
Banita Name History & Origins
The source word vanitā is an old Sanskrit feminine noun. It appears in classical Sanskrit literature as an ordinary descriptive term and was not originally a personal name. As the Indo-Aryan languages developed, the word passed into Hindi as vanitā and into Bengali as banitā; Bengali regularly changes Sanskrit initial v- to b-, and English spellings of South Asian names often use B- for the same sound. The personal name Vanita developed from this word, and Banita is its B- spelling variant.
Banita is used as a feminine given name in India and among Indian diaspora communities, where Sanskrit-derived words have long supplied personal names. The name is borne by the British actress Banita Sandhu, a current example of its use.
How Popular is the Name Banita?
Banita has historically been an exceptionally rare given name in the United States, remaining well outside the national mainstream. It saw its highest recorded annual births in 1969. Its best rank was #4,450 in 1969.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | #13,683 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1989 | #10,989 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1982 | #8,309 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1980 | #9,197 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1974 | #5,806 | 9 | 0.0006% |
| 1972 | #6,621 | 7 | 0.0005% |
| 1971 | #5,159 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1970 | #5,859 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1969 | #4,450 | 11 | 0.0007% |
| 1967 | #6,882 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1965 | #6,606 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1964 | #5,512 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1955 | #5,884 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1952 | #5,613 | 5 | 0.0003% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
Most Popular Girl Names That Start with B
How the Name Banita Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You can go to great heights and equally great depths. You are emotional and fixed in your opinions. You are hospitable, sentimental, often psychic, sometimes moody. You are ruled by love and the lack of it and feel a need to be encouraged and appreciated. You are bold, independent, inquisitive and interested in research. You know what you want and why you want it.
You are always looking for an opportunity to achieve financial and emotional security. You are basically peacemaker. You understand the law of harmony and desire to balance your life with those around you. You may feel incomplete without someone to share your love, ideals, wealth or work. You can be very sensitive and could appear a bit shy and perceptive. You have developed intuition, patience and the ability to nurture others. You can achieve the state of happiness if you are willing to accept your needs in a complimentary relationship and go to create them.
✦ Banita's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Banita's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.