Monica
Monica is a girl's name of Latin origin.
Meaning
Advisor; solitary; derived from Latin 'monere' (to advise) or Greek 'monos' (alone).
Origin and history
Monica is a traditional female name of Late Latin origin, potentially derived from North African or Greek roots. It gained widespread recognition through Saint Monica, the mother of Saint Augustine. In the United States, it enjoyed peak popularity during the late 20th century and remains a familiar classic.
Popularity in the United States
251,274 babies in the United States have been named Monica since 1880. It ranks #164 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #703.
States where it is most popular
- CA (18.6 %)
- TX (12.6 %)
- NY (5.9 %)
- IL (5.2 %)
- PA (4.1 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 89 |
| 1890-1900 | 277 |
| 1900-1910 | 505 |
| 1910-1920 | 1,739 |
| 1920-1930 | 2,067 |
| 1930-1940 | 2,469 |
| 1940-1950 | 4,657 |
| 1950-1960 | 18,722 |
| 1960-1970 | 45,192 |
| 1970-1980 | 61,680 |
| 1980-1990 | 51,863 |
| 1990-2000 | 38,895 |
| 2000-2010 | 14,690 |
| 2010-2019 | 6,074 |
| 2020-2029 | 2,355 |
Famous people named Monica
- Monica Seles: Tennis Player
- Monica Bellucci: Actress, Model
- Monica Raymund: Actress
Nicknames
Moni, Mo, Nica
Fun facts
- The name is believed to have ancient North African Punic roots before being Latinized in Roman antiquity.
- The character Monica Geller on the hit TV show 'Friends' boosted the name's familiarity throughout the 1990s.