Monica
Monica was the 737th most popular name for girls in 2025, given to 371 babies. Its best year was 1977, when it ranked 39th; the most babies were born in 1979 (6,585). Over the last ten years it has moved down 178 places. More babies were named Monica in the 1970s than in any other decade.
Meaning origin uncertain (probably Punic or Berber) · Latin, Punic
Say it MAH-nih-kuh /ˈmɑnɪkə/
- Rank in 2025
- #737 girls, down 40 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 371girls
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a girl’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 19796,585 babies
- Total since 1880
- 252,257babies recorded
What does the name Monica mean?
Monica is the name of Saint Monica, the mother of Saint Augustine. Wiktionary calls its meaning uncertain but probably Berber or Phoenician (Punic) in origin, and notes that Latin and Greek explanations have also been proposed. Popular links with Greek monos, alone, or Latin monere, to advise, are among those guesses. Monica has been used in the US since 1880 and was most common in the 1970s.
How sure is this? Uncertain. Wiktionary: meaning uncertain; probably from a local North African language.
Other explanations you may read: Means 'alone' (Greek monos) or 'advisor' (Latin monere). These are later guesses; Wiktionary favors a North African origin..
Related names: Monique, Mónica, Monika, Nica.
See also: Latin names.
Sources for this meaning
- Wiktionary, entry 'Monica' (English section), Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0; facts restated, no text reused)
- Wiktionary, entry 'Monica' (Dutch section), Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0; facts restated, no text reused)
- US Social Security Administration, national baby-name data 1880-2025 (yob*.txt), team3 computation of first year recorded, US Social Security Administration (public domain)
Monica popularity since 1880
A few boys are given the name too: 983 since 1948.
| Year | Rank (girls) | Babies (girls) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #737 | 371 |
| 2020 | #697 | 404 |
| 2010 | #361 | 887 |
| 2000 | #167 | 1,991 |
| 1990 | #76 | 4,453 |
| 1980 | #45 | 6,034 |
| 1970 | #56 | 6,188 |
| 1960 | #140 | 3,088 |
| 1950 | #231 | 1,059 |
| 1940 | #409 | 285 |
| 1930 | #522 | 168 |
| 1920 | #462 | 215 |
| 1910 | #454 | 79 |
| 1900 | #553 | 39 |
| 1890 | #661 | 17 |
| 1880 | #813 | 6 |
How popular is Monica, counting every spelling?
Monica is the most common spelling of a name family that ranked #727 for girls in 2025 once every spelling is counted together, compared with #737 for Monica on its own. Together these spellings went to 389 girls in 2025.
| Spelling | Babies 2025 | Official rank | Babies 2021–2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monica | 371 | #737 | 1,951 |
| Monika | 18 | #6,478 | 119 |
Spellings count together when they sound the same in American English and are used for the same sex; nicknames and forms that sound different (such as Theo and Theodore) are kept apart. How we group spellings.
How many kids will share the name Monica?
371 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Monica (0.10 per 1,000 births). For a girl named Monica born in 2025, the chance that another child with the same name is in a class of 20 children the same age is under 1 in 50. If every grade liked the name as much as the 2025 babies do, only about one elementary school in 23 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Monica.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Monica?
About 227,200 people born in the US named Monica are alive today, with a median age of 47; half are between 36 and 57. That makes Monica mostly worn by adults in their thirties to fifties.
Babies given the name each year (SSA) times the share of that birth year still alive (SSA life tables). Counts people born in the US only. Method.
Monica by state
How common Monica was among girls born in each state in 2021–2025. It is notably more common than nationally in Washington (1.9×), Illinois (1.6×). It is least common, relative to the national rate, in Louisiana, Connecticut, Nevada.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Monica: their share of US girls followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Monica, they share its era and feel.
Middle names for Monica · Sibling names for Monica
Questions about the name Monica
What does Monica mean?
Monica is usually explained as “origin uncertain (probably Punic or Berber)”, but this is uncertain. Certainty: uncertain.
How popular is the name Monica?
Monica was the 737th most popular name for girls in 2025, given to 371 babies. Its best year was 1977, when it ranked 39th; the most babies were born in 1979 (6,585). Over the last ten years it has moved down 178 places. More babies were named Monica in the 1970s than in any other decade.
Is Monica a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a girl’s name given the name Monica in the US.
Where is Monica most popular?
In 2021–2025, Monica was most common in Washington (0.46 per 1,000 girls), followed by Nebraska and Illinois.