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Waunita

♀ Girl

How to Pronounce Waunita

Pronounced wah-NEE-tuh /wɑˈniː.tə/Medium

Meaning: Waunita is a phonetic respelling of Juanita (or Wanita), the Spanish diminutive of Juana — the feminine of Juan/John, from Hebrew 'God is gracious'. The Wau- spelling reflects how English speakers sounded out the Spanish 'Jua-'.Low

In 30 seconds: Waunita is a spelled-out form of Juanita — 'little Juana', from a root meaning 'God is gracious' (said 'wah-NEE-tuh').

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Origin LowSpanish, Hebrew

MeaningWaunita is a phonetic respelling of Juanita (or Wanita), the Spanish diminutive of Juana — the feminine of Juan/John, from Hebrew 'God is gracious'. The Wau- spelling reflects how English speakers sounded out the Spanish 'Jua-'.

U.S. rank (1971)#8298 ↘ Falling

1971 U.S. births6 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)

Peak year1924

Total births (all-time)≈ 865

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Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Waunita renders Juanita by English phonics, keeping the Spanish diminutive of Juana (feminine of John, 'God is gracious'). Such respellings were common where the Spanish 'Jua-' met English ears in the early twentieth century.

It saw its faint high point around 1924 and faded by the 1970s. Only a few dozen girls a year ever carried this spelling.

Did you know? There is a small town of Waunita in Colorado, near the Waunita Hot Springs, showing how the phonetic spelling settled onto the map as well as onto birth records.

Overall data confidence 50%

References — Waunita — respelling of Juanita; Spanish diminutive of Juana

Variations

JuanitaWanitaWaneta

Nicknames

NitaWaun

Famous Bearers

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If you like Waunita…

Juanita— the standard Spanish spelling Waunita renders

Wanita— a close phonetic sister form

Anita— a fellow Spanish -ita diminutive

Benita— another warm -ita girls' name of the era

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Waunita mean?

Waunita is a variant spelling of Juanita, the Spanish diminutive of Juana meaning 'God is gracious'.

How do you pronounce Waunita?

It's said wah-NEE-tuh /wɑˈniː.tə/ — three syllables, stress on the second.

Is Waunita a boy or girl name?

Waunita is used as a girl's name, a respelling of Juanita.

How popular is Waunita?

Waunita has always been rare in the U.S., a vintage respelling of Juanita most seen in the early twentieth century.