Find out how popular the first name Monterey has been for the last 10 years (from 2015 to 2024) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Monterey by gender

Based on the last 10 years of data, Monterey is exclusively a female name.

For the most recent data in 2024, there were 5 female babies and 0 male babies born with the name Monterey.

The history of the first name Monterey

The name Monterey has its roots in the Spanish language and is believed to have originated in the late 16th or early 17th century. It is derived from the combination of two Spanish words: "monte" meaning mountain and "rey" meaning king. The name is thought to have been inspired by the majestic coastal mountain ranges found in the region of Monterey, California.

One of the earliest recorded uses of the name Monterey can be found in historical accounts of the Spanish expeditions to the west coast of North America. In 1602, the Spanish explorer Sebastián Vizcaíno is said to have named the area that is now Monterey Bay after the Count of Monterrey, who was the Viceroy of New Spain at the time.

Throughout history, the name Monterey has been associated with several notable figures. One of the most famous individuals with this name was Gaspar de Zúñiga y Acevedo, Count of Monterrey (1560-1606), who served as the Viceroy of New Spain from 1595 to 1603. His name was given to the bay and the region that later became known as Monterey, California.

Another historical figure named Monterey was Agustín de Iturbide y Green (1783-1824), who was a Mexican revolutionary and the first emperor of independent Mexico. He was born in Valladolid (now Morelia), and his full name was Agustín Cosme Damián de Iturbide y Arámburu y Núñez de Castilla, with Monterey being part of his family name.

In the realm of literature, the name Monterey has also made an appearance. One example is the character Monterey Jack, a fictional mouse from the popular children's book series "Geronimo Stilton" by the Italian author Elisabetta Dami.

Another notable individual with the name Monterey was John Monterey (1915-2004), an American jazz saxophonist and composer who was active in the swing and bebop eras of jazz music.

Lastly, Monterey Cooper (1920-2011) was an American businessman and philanthropist who co-founded the Cooper Aerobics Center in Dallas, Texas, and made significant contributions to the field of preventive medicine.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Monterey was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Monterey, please contact us.

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