Mina vs Monica
Mina and Monicacompared on official birth-registration statistics and Namewise's recorded data. This page states what each name's record shows — it never picks a winner or scores one name against the other.
Head to head
Ranks are only compared within one published list and one year. Two ranks from different years, from a boys' and a girls' list, or from different registrars are not comparable, so they are not placed side by side.
Norway · Girls
In 2017, Mina was ranked #63 and Monica #542 among girls in Norway.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Mina was ranked #384 and Monica #790 among girls in Scotland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Mina was ranked #493 and Monica #1449 among girls in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2023, Mina was ranked #727 and Monica #727 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Mina and Monica over time
Mina and Monica appear together in 2 published lists, across 86 years of shared records. Neither was ahead in more lists than the other.
The order between them changed and held in 2 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Monica reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, and Mina in none. Each position is a place inside its own list, so this compares when they peaked and never how high.
Counted list by list. Two names in the same published list are measured on the same scale in the same year, so those comparisons are real — but positions from different lists are not, so nothing here is combined into an overall standing.
How this pair is related
The relationship kinds these two qualify for, each under its own stated rule. Every one is drawn from a list they both appear in.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1994, Mina moved ahead of Monica in Norway · Girls — #127 and #92 the year before became #114 and #119.
- Mirrored each other
Over 57 shared years in Norway · Girls, Mina rose about as far as Monica fell — from #392 and #247 in 1947 to #63 and #542 in 2017.
- Longest-running competitions
Mina and Monica were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 57 years, from 1947 to 2017, ending at #63 and #542.
List by list
Norway · Girls57 shared years, 1947–2017
Mina held the stronger position in 21 of those years, Monica in 36.
Highest recorded here: Mina #20 in 2007, Monica #3 in 1971.
The order changed in 1994: Mina moved ahead. In 1993 they stood at #127 and #92; by 1994 that had become #114 and #119.
Most recent shared year, 2017: Mina #63, Monica #542.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Mina held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Monica in 13.
Highest recorded here: Mina #478 in 2018, Monica #274 in 1997.
The order changed in 2010: Mina moved ahead. In 2009 they stood at #865 and #821; by 2010 that had become #623 and #730.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Mina #493, Monica #1449.
Two names moving past each other in a ranking is a fact about the ranking. Namewise does not claim one name displaced the other, that families chose between them, or that either influenced the other — none of that is in this data.
Side by side
| Field | Mina | Monica |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Precise meaning uncertain — most likely of Berber or Phoenician origin; since the Middle Ages popularly associated with Latin 'moneo' ('to advise') and Greek 'monos' ('one, single'). Borne by the 4th-century North African saint who was mother of Saint Augustine. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Uncertain (Berber or Phoenician) |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈmoː.ni.kaː/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 3 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Monika, Mona |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-SCT, IE, NO | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #65 (2025) | Scotland · Girls #790 (2024) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | high |
What the data shows
- Monica has a recorded origin (Uncertain (Berber or Phoenician)); Mina does not have one recorded yet.
- Mina has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Monica.
- A meaning is recorded for Monica; Mina doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-SCT, IE, NO.
- The available evidence gives Mina a "medium" Data Confidence level and Monica a "high" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
How each name got here
Mina
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #350 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1945–2025
Highest recorded position: #20 among girls in Norway, in 2007 (recorded 1945–2025).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #65 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls
Monica
Popularity journey
First recorded1946
First recorded at #315 among girls in Norway in 1946 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1946–2017
Highest recorded position: #3 among girls in Norway, in 1971 (recorded 1946–2017).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #1449 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Girls