Minerva

“Wisdom; from a Proto-Indo-European root meaning thought” — Latin, from Proto-Indo-European origin

Girl's name · #2112 in the US (2025) · Timeless

Few names move less than Minerva — on the books since 1880, #2112 in 2025, and dependable in between. Roughly 16,000 girls share it. In all that time it has never once missed a year of the national records. Minnie is a short form of Minerva.

Around the world: about 1 in 12,000 girls in Austria (2025) · about 1 in 13,000 girls in Canada (2024) · about 1 in 16,000 girls in Sweden (2025).

Appears in 2020-2025 birth records of 5 states. See the full state-by-state map on this page.

Famous Minervas

Minerva Hase — German figure skater
Minerva J. Chapman — American artist (1858-1947)
Minerva Mirabal — Dominican lawyer and political activist
Minerva Bernardino — Dominican diplomat
Minerva Urecal — actress (1894-1966)

In stories & tradition

Minerva — Roman deity
Minerva (Minnie Mouse) — Mickey, Donald, Goofy: The Three Musketeers · The Catchy Tune Effect
Minerva McGonagall — Harry Potter · Harry Potter and the Cursed Child

What Minervas become

Among 66 notable people named Minerva:

Artists & writers appear 1.45× more often than among typical names — e.g. Minerva J. Chapman, American artist (1858-1947).

Similar names: Francis · Minnie · Geneva · Leonor · Lucinda · Manuela

Browse more girl names — popularity, trends and eras for 5,700+ American names, free.

About · Privacy Policy · Terms of Service