Monica
Girl name · #736 in 2025 · Uniqueness 61/100
In 2025, 371 baby girls were named Monica, placing it at #736 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #559, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 4,852 girls born in 2025 was named Monica.
Babies named Monica per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
The 145-year story
Monica first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 6 girls received the name. Its peak came in 1979, when 6,585 girls were named Monica — good for #40 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.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Monica against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Monica in class?
Monica 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 Monica is most common
Geography matters for names, and Monica is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Monicas were CA (59), TX (43), FL (33), IL (15), NJ (13). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Monica
Statistically, parents drawn to Monica tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Veronica, Jessica, Erica, Melissa, and Rebecca.
VeronicaJessicaEricaMelissaRebeccaLorenaChristinaTara
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Monica | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 371 | #736 |
| 2024 | 390 | #723 |
| 2023 | 386 | #729 |
| 2022 | 389 | #744 |
| 2021 | 415 | #695 |
| 2020 | 404 | #696 |
| 2019 | 459 | #638 |
| 2018 | 498 | #606 |
| 2017 | 473 | #625 |
| 2016 | 522 | #587 |
| 2015 | 557 | #559 |
| 2014 | 577 | #539 |
| 2013 | 597 | #503 |
| 2012 | 724 | #431 |
| 2011 | 780 | #403 |
| 2010 | 887 | #361 |
| 2009 | 972 | #339 |
| 2008 | 1,064 | #316 |
| 2007 | 1,192 | #285 |
| 2006 | 1,363 | #248 |
| 2005 | 1,409 | #238 |
| 2004 | 1,512 | #225 |
| 2003 | 1,613 | #207 |
| 2002 | 1,778 | #180 |
| 2001 | 1,796 | #182 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Monica a popular girl name?
Monica ranked #736 among girls in 2025 with 371 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #559.
When was the name Monica most popular?
Monica peaked in 1979, when 6,585 American girls received the name (ranked #40 that year). Since 1979 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Monica?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 4,852 newborn American girls was named Monica. 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.