Monica is a feminine given name of Latin origin, derived from the male name Monica, which means "advisor" or "alone". The name Monica was first used as a female name in the Western world due to Saint Monica, the mother of Saint Augustine of Hippo, who lived in the 4th century. According to tradition, Monica prayed fervently for her son's conversion and ultimately saw him become one of the most influential theologians in Christianity.
The name Monica has been used consistently throughout history but it gained popularity during the Middle Ages, particularly among Catholics, due to its association with Saint Monica. In recent years, Monica has been a popular choice for parents looking for classic yet unique names for their daughters.
Some notable people named Monica include:
* Monica Bellucci, an Italian actress and model
* Monica Seles, a former professional tennis player from Yugoslavia
* Monica Lewinsky, an American political scandal participant
While the name Monica may have gained fame due to these individuals, it is important to note that its popularity predates them. Ultimately, the name Monica carries with it a rich history and strong association with faith, perseverance, and love.
Between 1948 and 2004, the name Monica was given to a total of 983 babies born in the United States each year. The popularity of this name varied over time, with some years seeing more than double the number of births compared to others.
The earliest data available shows that there were only 5 births named Monica in the United States in 1948. This number remained relatively low throughout the 1950s and early 1960s, fluctuating between 7 and 12 births per year.
However, starting from 1968, the popularity of the name Monica began to rise steadily. The number of annual births with this name peaked in 1973 with a total of 42 newborn girls named Monica that year. This trend continued throughout the late 1970s and early 1980s, with an average of around 30-40 babies named Monica each year.
Interestingly, despite its popularity during this period, the name Monica never reached the top 100 most popular baby names in the United States. It was at its highest rank (position 152) in 1974.
After the early 1980s, the popularity of the name Monica started to decline gradually. Between 1985 and 1990, around 30-40 babies were named Monica each year on average. But by the late 1990s and early 2000s, this number had dropped significantly, with only single-digit figures recorded in some years (as low as 6 births in 2001).
In summary, while Monica was not one of the most popular baby names in the United States during the period from 1948 to 2004, it did enjoy periods of relative popularity, particularly between the late 1960s and early 1980s. However, its overall popularity has declined steadily since then.