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Nicknames for Minka

Meanings and history of the name Minka

We read that it was a traditional Polish nickname for Wilhelmina, but I haven't been able to verify that anywhere else.

The wikipedia entry for Wilhelmina lists Minka as a Czech, Slovakian, and Polish variant of the name. Wikipedia isn't always necessarily right, but combined with a handful of online anecdotes I've seen from people knowing old Polish ladies with the name, this origin is at least believable.

I've found it cited a few times as a Yiddish name (1. online commenter whose Jewish grandmother was named Minka 2. List of names included in a book of Jewish Personal Names), but neither gave a meaning or derivation.

Famous real-life people named Minka

Minka Kelly - American actress
Minka Pradelski - German sociologist and documentarian. Penned the novel "Here Comes Mrs. Kugelman"
Minka Kuustonen - Finnish actress

Minka in song, story & screen

Minka Kropotkin - grandmother of Tommy Pickles in the 90s cartoon "Rugrats"