Monica
How to say it: MAH-ni-kuh · /ˈmɑnɪkə/
Possibly from Latin 'monere' (to advise) or Greek 'monos' (alone). Best known as the name of Saint Monica, mother of Augustine.
Monica was the 716th most popular girls’ name in the United States in 2025, given to 371 babies (Social Security Administration). Its busiest decade was the 1970s, its births are down about 33% in ten years, and it is projected to slip to #798 by 2030.
Updated · SSA 2025 data, published May 2026 · Insee 2025 data, published July 2026 · How we compute these figures
Key facts
| Rank among girls’ names, 2025 | #716 |
|---|---|
| Babies born in 2025 | 371 |
| Share of births | 1 in 8,936 |
| Peak decade | 1970s |
| Change over 10 years | −33% |
| Projected rank for 2030 (estimate) | #798 |
| In France, 2025 | #999 among girls’ names, 25 births |
Sources: Social Security Administration (SSA), Insee (France). How we compute these figures.
Its life, decade by decade
After peaking in the 1970s, Monica has grown steadily rarer. Now far below that high, further slipping looks likely over the next few years.
What goes with it
Soft consonants meet a crisp edge, with a saintly association lingering underneath. Diana shares its classic rhythm.
In the classroom
In a class of 25 children born in 2025, the chance that another child is called Monica is about under 1 in 200.
Around the world
This spelling is used in Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Italian, Norwegian, Portuguese, Spanish, Swedish.
In France: #999 for girls in 2025.
Famous people named Monica
- Monica Bellucci (born 1964)Italian actress and model
- Monica Lewinsky (born 1973)American activist and writer
- Monica Vitti (1931–2022)Italian actress
From Wikidata and Wikipedia
Good to know
- Monica Geller, main character on Friends played by Courteney Cox
Keep exploring
About as popular as Monica
In the same lists
Find names you'll both love, starting with Monica
The one-minute style quiz.