Anita

Anita originated as a Spanish and Portuguese diminutive of Ana, itself the Latinate form of the Hebrew name Channah, meaning grace or favor. The name spread widely across European languages, including Croatian, Slovene, Dutch, German, and the Scandinavian tongues, carried partly by its pleasant sound and partly by cultural exchange. Independently, Anita also functions as a feminine given name in Hindi, Marathi, Nepali, and Tamil traditions, derived from the Sanskrit word anita meaning simple or artless. Related forms include Ana, Anna, Anne, Anita's Swedish literary namesake from Astrid Lindgren's works, and the diminutive Nita.