Minerva
Girl name · #2099 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Minerva? In official American birth records, Minerva has been tracked continuously since 1880, giving it 145 years of documented American history.
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. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Minerva against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Minerva in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Minerva is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Minerva will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Minerva is most common
State-level data for Minerva is too sparse in 2025 to rank by rate — in most states its count falls below the SSA's per-state reporting threshold (counts under 5 are withheld).
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
How old is the name Minerva?
In official American birth records, the name Minerva first appeared in 1880 (over 145 years ago), when 63 newborn girls received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
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. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "very rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.