Holding steady, #13,208 for girls today.
Popularity of Molina since 1971
Babies named Molina per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1970s | 51 |
| 1980s | 23 |
| 1990s | 54 |
| 2000s | 36 |
| 2010s | 38 |
| 2020s | 26 |
Meaning & origin
Molina is a rare feminine given name that first appeared on U.S. birth records in 1971, where it also reached its peak year of usage that same year. In 2025, it ranked 13,208, with approximately 1 in every 267,878 newborns receiving the name, reflecting its very low frequency. The name's trajectory has been stable over recent decades, never deviating far from obscurity. It is most likely derived from the Spanish surname Molina, meaning 'mill', and may have been inspired by similar feminine names like Melina or by the surname itself. Molina has no strong association with any particular U.S. state, as its usage is scattered and minimal, and it has no recorded top states. Its rarity gives it a distinctive, understated quality.
Molina is likely derived from the Spanish surname Molina, which itself comes from the Latin 'molina' meaning 'mill'. As a given name, it emerged in the United States in the 1970s, possibly as a feminine form of the surname or as a variant of Melina or similar names. Its use remains uncommon and primarily modern.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Molly, Lina, Moli
Sibling names for Molina
Names that share Molina's style, for a brother or sister.
