Monika
A feminine name of Greek origin meaning "alone" or "unique".
Name Census estimates that about 9,040 living Americans carry the first name Monika. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Monika today is around 40 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Monika births was 1990 (257 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Monika. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
People living today
9.0K
~ 1 in 37,915 Americans
Peak year
1990
257 babies that year
Average age
40
years old
2024 SSA rank
#8,248
Tracked since 1942
Popularity
Monika: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Monika from the 1940s through to the 2020s, spanning 9 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1990s, with 2,280 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1990s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Monika by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Monika during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Monikas live
The SSA's state-level files cover 31 states and territories. California, Illinois, New York recorded the most babies named Monika, while Utah, Nevada, Minnesota recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 211 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Monika
The name Monika originated from the Late Latin name "Monica," which is derived from the Greek word "monos," meaning "alone" or "singular." The name gained popularity in the early Christian era and has been used across various cultures and regions.
The earliest recorded use of the name Monica dates back to the 4th century AD, when it was borne by St. Monica, the mother of the influential philosopher and theologian St. Augustine. St. Monica was known for her strong Christian faith and her perseverance in prayer, which eventually led to her son's conversion to Christianity.
During the Middle Ages, the name Monika was relatively uncommon, but it gained renewed popularity in the Renaissance period. One notable figure from this era was Monika von Rosenfeld (1455-1543), a German noblewoman and writer who authored several religious texts and played a significant role in the Protestant Reformation.
In the 18th century, the name Monika was particularly popular in Central and Eastern Europe. One famous bearer of the name from this period was Monika Żórawska (1762-1842), a Polish writer and translator who was instrumental in promoting the works of William Shakespeare in her native country.
The 19th century saw the name Monika gain popularity across Europe and beyond. One notable figure was Monika Perton (1847-1918), a Swedish journalist and suffragette who fought for women's rights and the abolition of censorship laws.
In the 20th century, the name Monika continued to be widely used, particularly in German-speaking countries. One famous bearer of the name was Monika Gedeck (1951-present), a German actress known for her roles in films such as "The Lives of Others" and "The Wave."
Another notable figure was Monika Seleš (1973-present), a former professional tennis player from Yugoslavia (now Serbia) who won nine Grand Slam singles titles and was ranked World No. 1 in 1991 and 1992.
Throughout its history, the name Monika has been associated with qualities such as individuality, strength, and perseverance, reflecting its Greek roots and the legacy of its early Christian bearers.
People
Monika + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Monika as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with M
Other first names starting with M with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Monika: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Monika?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 9,040 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Monika going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 37,915 US residents.
Is Monika a common name?
We classify Monika as "Rare". It ranks above 97.6% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 9,790 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Monika most popular?
The single biggest year for Monika was 1990, when 257 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Monika is about 40 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Monika a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Monika in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.