Rita sits next to 4 phonetic neighbors — Rida, Rheta, and Greta are the closest matches by sound. Most share Rita's Spanish-origin cluster, so the rhythm and vowel shape carry across the list.
You searched for names like
"pearl"
"most holy"
"one who sails, seafarer"
"land of the black soil"
"life"
"bright, shining one"
"follower of Christ"
"star of the sea"
"noble father's daughter"
"God is gracious"
"vitality, living"
"admirable, wonderful"
"may God protect"
"son of Maud, mighty in battle"
"gentle horse"
"shining, glowing"
"from Hadria"
"she who weakened"
"returning, distinguished"
Similar sound: These names share phonetic patterns with Rita — similar vowel sounds, consonant clusters, or rhythm.
Shared roots: Several names on this list have Latin via Greek origins, giving them the same cultural heritage as Rita.
Rhythm: Rita is a 2-syllable name. Names with the same syllable count tend to feel interchangeable when you're narrowing your list.