Monika
Monika was the 6478th most popular name for girls in 2025, given to 18 babies. Its best year was 1978, when it ranked 707th; the most babies were born in 1990 (257). Over the last ten years it has moved down 3,057 places. More babies were named Monika in the 1990s than in any other decade.
Meaning (as Monica) origin uncertain (probably Punic or Berber) · Latin, Punic
- Rank in 2025
- #6,478 girls, down 2,240 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 18girls
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a girl’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 1990257 babies
- Total since 1880
- 9,810babies recorded
What does the name Monika mean?
Monika is a spelling of Monica, pronounced the same way, so it shares Monica's meaning and origin.
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)
Monika popularity since 1880
| Year | Rank (girls) | Babies (girls) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #6,478 | 18 |
| 2020 | #4,238 | 33 |
| 2010 | #2,579 | 71 |
| 2000 | #1,286 | 151 |
| 1990 | #785 | 257 |
| 1980 | #775 | 213 |
| 1970 | #873 | 153 |
| 1960 | #1,066 | 102 |
| 1950 | #4,215 | 8 |
| 1940 | — | — |
| 1930 | — | — |
| 1920 | — | — |
| 1910 | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — |
How popular is Monika, counting every spelling?
Monika is a spelling of Monica, a name family that ranked #727 for girls in 2025 once every spelling is counted together, compared with #6,478 for Monika 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 Monika?
18 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Monika (0.01 per 1,000 births). For a girl named Monika 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 465 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Monika.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Monika?
About 9,300 people born in the US named Monika are alive today, with a median age of 39; half are between 29 and 51. That makes Monika 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.
Monika by state
How common Monika was among girls born in each state in 2021–2025. In 48 states fewer than five girls a year got the name, too few for SSA to publish, so those states show as zero.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Monika: their share of US girls followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Monika, they share its era and feel.
Questions about the name Monika
What does Monika mean?
Monika is a spelling of Monica, usually explained as “origin uncertain (probably Punic or Berber)”, but this is uncertain. Certainty: uncertain.
How popular is the name Monika?
Monika was the 6478th most popular name for girls in 2025, given to 18 babies. Its best year was 1978, when it ranked 707th; the most babies were born in 1990 (257). Over the last ten years it has moved down 3,057 places. More babies were named Monika in the 1990s than in any other decade.
Is Monika a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a girl’s name given the name Monika in the US.
Where is Monika most popular?
In 2021–2025, Monika was most common in Illinois (0.03 per 1,000 girls), followed by California and New York.