Unica
A feminine name with Latin roots meaning "unique" or "singular".
Name Census estimates that about 40 living Americans carry the first name Unica. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Unica today is around 31 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Unica births was 1993 (6 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Unica. 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.
Key insights
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Unica. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
40
~ 1 in 8,568,858 Americans
Peak year
1993
6 babies that year
Average age
31
years old
2015 SSA rank
#18,918
Tracked since 1979
Popularity
Unica: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Unica from the 1970s through to the 2010s, spanning 5 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2000s, with 11 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 2000s peak, Unica remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Unica 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 Unica during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Unica
Unica is a unique and intriguing name with a rich history that spans several cultures and languages. Its origins can be traced back to Latin, where the word "unica" means "one and only" or "unique." This name was likely used to honor a child who was the only offspring or to emphasize the child's uniqueness and special qualities.
In ancient Rome, the name Unica was sometimes bestowed upon daughters born to wealthy or influential families, as a way to signify their elevated status and singularity. It was also occasionally used as a nickname or pet name for girls whose given names held similar meanings, such as Unica for a girl named Unica Filia (Latin for "only daughter").
Moving forward in history, the name Unica gained popularity in various European countries during the Renaissance period. It was particularly favored by artists and intellectuals who appreciated its artistic and philosophical connotations. One notable bearer of this name was Unica Zürn (1916-1970), a German artist and writer known for her surrealist works and her tumultuous relationship with the artist Hans Bellmer.
In Italy, the name Unica has a long-standing tradition and can be traced back to the Middle Ages. One of the earliest recorded instances of this name is Unica da Siena (1235-1299), an Italian mystic and religious figure who was revered for her visions and spiritual writings.
Another notable figure named Unica was Unica Brizzi (1924-2002), an Italian actress and singer who appeared in various films and television shows throughout the 20th century. She was celebrated for her versatility and her ability to portray a wide range of characters.
In Spain, the name Unica has been used for centuries, often as a shortened form of the name Unicia or Unicia de la Cruz. One famous bearer of this name was Unica Calderón (1503-1588), a Spanish noblewoman and patron of the arts who was known for her support of artists and writers during the Spanish Golden Age.
While the name Unica may be relatively uncommon in some parts of the world, it has a rich and diverse history that spans multiple cultures and time periods. Its unique meaning and artistic associations have made it a favored choice among those who value individuality and creativity.
People
Unica + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Unica as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with U
Other first names starting with U with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Unica: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Unica?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 40 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Unica 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 8,568,858 US residents.
Is Unica a common name?
We classify Unica as "Very Rare". It ranks above 51% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 42 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Unica most popular?
The single biggest year for Unica was 1993, when 6 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Unica is about 31 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Unica a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Unica 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.