Minerva
Girl name · #2099 in 2025 · Uniqueness 61/100
In 2025, 89 baby girls were named Minerva, placing it at #2099 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #3211, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 20,225 girls born in 2025 was named Minerva.
The 145-year story
Minerva first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 63 girls received the name. Its peak came in 1955, when 221 girls were named Minerva — good for #624 that year. Today's parents encounter it as a name from their grandparents’ generation, which is precisely the vintage window from which names get revived. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Babies named Minerva per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Minerva against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Minerva in class?
Minerva scores 61 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "distinctive" band. That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Minerva is most common
Geography matters for names, and Minerva is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Minervas were CA (16), TX (15), AZ (5). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Minerva
Statistically, parents drawn to Minerva tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Marta, Melodie, Margarita, Martina, and Lucinda.
MartaMelodieMargaritaMartinaLucindaMarlaMalindaSusanna
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Minerva | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 89 | #2099 |
| 2024 | 74 | #2434 |
| 2023 | 93 | #2076 |
| 2022 | 83 | #2253 |
| 2021 | 84 | #2212 |
| 2020 | 69 | #2500 |
| 2019 | 84 | #2193 |
| 2018 | 82 | #2238 |
| 2017 | 68 | #2573 |
| 2016 | 65 | #2667 |
| 2015 | 51 | #3211 |
| 2014 | 47 | #3369 |
| 2013 | 46 | #3404 |
| 2012 | 39 | #3915 |
| 2011 | 38 | #3916 |
| 2010 | 37 | #4023 |
| 2009 | 41 | #3800 |
| 2008 | 48 | #3420 |
| 2007 | 72 | #2568 |
| 2006 | 65 | #2728 |
| 2005 | 59 | #2787 |
| 2004 | 58 | #2781 |
| 2003 | 61 | #2610 |
| 2002 | 55 | #2745 |
| 2001 | 45 | #3091 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Minerva a popular girl name?
Minerva ranked #2099 among girls in 2025 with 89 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #3211.
When was the name Minerva most popular?
Minerva peaked in 1955, when 221 American girls received the name (ranked #624 that year). Since 1955 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Minerva?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 20,225 newborn American girls was named Minerva. It scores 61/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "distinctive".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.