Monica is a girl's name of Spanish origin. Its meaning is not recorded in the standard references we check — we would rather tell you that plainly than guess. Its exact origin is debated among name scholars. In 2024 it was given to 388 girls in the United States.
Monica at a glance
Gender
Girl name
Origin
Spanish · Portuguese · German · French · Italian
Meaning
Not recorded in standard references
Pronunciation
/ˈmɒn.ɪ.kə/
About the name Monica
Monica belongs to the Spanish and Portuguese tradition. Its roots are documented, even though its precise meaning is not recorded in the standard references — an honest gap we prefer to a confident guess.
In the United States, Monica first appears in Social Security records in 1880. It climbed to its best-ever rank of #39 in 1977, and in 2024 388 babies received the name — 250,900 in total since 1880. Those are the official counts, not estimates.
The meaning of Monica is not recorded in the standard references we check. Rather than repeat an unsourced claim, we leave it open — its Spanish origin is documented, but its exact meaning is not.
Is Monica a boy or girl name?
Monica is a girl name. In 2024, 388 babies received the name in the US.
What origin is the name Monica?
Monica comes from the Spanish, Portuguese, German, French and Italian tradition.
How popular is the name Monica?
Monica first appears in US records in 1880. Its best-ever ranking was #39 in 1977, and 388 babies were given the name in 2024.
How do you pronounce Monica?
Monica is pronounced /ˈmɒn.ɪ.kə/ (IPA).
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Meaning and origin for this page were checked against this source. US popularity figures are from the Social Security Administration's public baby-names data. If you spot an error, write to [email protected] — accuracy is the whole point of this site, and corrections are made fast.