Monica
Origin of the name Monica:
Ancient yet still popular name of uncertain etymology. Monica was the name of the mother of St. Augustine, who was born in Numidia, an ancient country in northern Africa. Thus, the name might be of African origin. However, Monica is said to have been a citizen of Carthage, a city founded by the Phoenicians, so her name might be of Phoenician origin. Alternatively, some believe it to be from the Latin moneo (to advise).
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Reader Contributions
Contribute to, or edit, this collection of community wisdom on the name Monica!
- Comments and insights on the name Monica: | Edit
The popularity of the name was pretty strong until the Clinton scandal, then plummeted and hasn't recovered. Look at the map/timeline to see how dramatic it was.
Monica/Monika was extremely popular in Europe in the 1960s, especially Germany and Italy.
Witman
- Personal experiences with the name Monica: | Edit
I cannot believe that the Clinton scandal had any effect on the popularity of the name Monica. I have always believed that this name was not that common which led me to want it even more for my daughter who was born in 1988. I am 40 yrs old and have only heard this name, unassociated from my daughter, only a handful of times. My daughter never gets teased about her name , but rather gets many compliments. It is a beautiful name! I know that my daughter would never want to change it! I hope people really re-think this lovely name and the popularity gains just a little.
I have a sister with this name and people like it cuz it's pretty and unpopular!
- Nicknames for Monica: | Edit
Mo, Mon, Mona, Nica, Nicki, Moni,
- Meanings and history of the name Monica: | Edit
- Share what you know!
- Famous real-life people named Monica: | Edit
Monica Ali, English writer
Monica Arnold (born 1980), American singer, professionally known as "Monica"
Monica Bellucci (born 1968), Italian actress
Monica Cruz (born 1977), Spanish actress
Monica Dickens (1915-1992), British author of books for adults and children
Monica Edwards (1912-1998), British children's author
Mónica Falcioni (born 1968), Uruguayan long and triple jumper
Monika Fikerle (born 1974), Australian musician
Monica Goodling (born 1973), former Director of Public Affairs for the U.S. Department of Justice
Monica Horan (born 1963), American actress
Monica of Hippo (322-387), Carthaginian saint, the mother of Saint Augustine
Monica Lewinsky (born 1973), former White House intern who had an affair with U.S. President Bill Clinton
Monica Naranjo (born 1974), Spanish singer
Mónica Pont (born 1969), Spanish long-distance runner
Monica Regonesi (born 1961), Chilean long-distance runner
Mônica Rodrigues (born 1967), Brazilian volleyball player
Monica Seles (born 1973), American-Serbian tennis player
Mónica Vergara (born 1983), Mexican female footballer
Monica Vitti, Italian actress
Monica Zetterlund (1937- 2005), Swedish singer and actress- Monica in song, story & screen: | Edit
Monica Geller, character on TV show Friends, played by Courtney Cox
"Summer with Monika" (1954) Ingmar Bergman film starring Harriet Andersson
Monica Thorne in Trollope's 1858 novel Doctor Thorne
Monica, the lead character from the Brazilian comic book Monica's Gang
Monica Raybrandt, female protagonist character of the video game Dark Chronicle
Monica Warner, Blair's mother on the '80s sitcom The Facts of Life
NameVoyager US Popularity of Monica Over Time
NameMapper Current Popularity of Monica by State
Global Popularity of the Name Monica
- #90 in Spain
- #317 in United States
- #360 in Canada (British Columbia)
- #519 in Scotland
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