A 1880s favorite, climbing again.
Popularity of Mina since 1880
Babies named Mina per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 2023, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Mina's real moment was 1880.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 773 |
| 1890s | 1,009 |
| 1900s | 756 |
| 1910s | 1,288 |
| 1920s | 1,236 |
| 1930s | 863 |
| 1940s | 700 |
| 1950s | 577 |
| 1960s | 522 |
| 1970s | 431 |
| 1980s | 635 |
| 1990s | 1,233 |
| 2000s | 2,555 |
| 2010s | 3,762 |
| 2020s | 2,927 |
Meaning & origin
Mina is a name of uncertain origin that has been in consistent use in the United States since at least 1880, when it ranked 595th. Its peak year was 1880, and after a period of decline, it has been rising in popularity since 1985, returning to the top 1000 in recent years. In 2025, it was given to about 1 in every 3273 baby girls. The name is most popular in Oregon, New York, and Minnesota. Mina's cross-cultural appeal and simple, melodic sound have contributed to its enduring use.
Mina has multiple proposed origins. In Sanskrit, it means 'love' or 'fish' (as a symbol of fertility). In Persian, it is a feminine name meaning 'azure' or 'heavenly'. It also arose as a short form of names like Wilhelmina in German and Dutch. The name has been used across cultures, with a notable presence in Japan as a given name derived from the word for 'south'.
Where Mina is most popular
Births per 100,000 girls by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Mina” around the world
Where Mina lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
170
babies in 2024
Quebec
13
babies in 2025
Sources: INSEE (France) · Retraite Québec (Quebec).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Mini, Mimi
Sibling names for Mina
Names that share Mina's style, for a brother or sister.
Sisters: Lena, Nina, Lila, Alina, Zara, Cecelia, Chaya, Deena, Dessa, Gina, Hilma, Idella, Lida, Meta, Tena, Vina, Atha, Bina, Jina, Kina, Letty, Minda, Reena, Rina, Sada, Sora, Vena, Veta, Zina, Adda, Buna, Elmina, Gari, Inda, Leitha, Lota, Lulla, Netta, Olla, Opha, Shina, Zissy, Benna, Berdina, Drina, Effa, Fina, Hedy, Lalla, Leeta, Lonia, Necie, Nihan, Onna, Ota, Pernie, Pina, Sachi, Tinna, Wana, Yena, Elzina, Arra, Beda, Cina, Dinna, Ermina, Eun, Helma, Heran, Itha, Jinna, Lemma, Loda, Minsa, Ocia, Olar, Omah, Rhina, Statia, Winna, Yoona, Yori, Yun
Brothers: Leo, Owen, Eli, Noah, Kai, Bora, Haru, Isidor, Kaito, Kwan, Levie, Tae, Bera, Chon, Reyhan, Abanoub, Asan, Chong, Ermin, Iori, Kang, Sang, Yoon
Names like Mina
Names whose popularity has moved with Mina's over the last 50 years.
