Monica
Girl name · #736 in 2025 · Rare
How old is the name Monica? In official American birth records, Monica has been tracked continuously since 1880, giving it 145 years of documented American history.
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. Source: Official national birth records.
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?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Monica is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Monica will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Monica is most common
Geography matters for names, and Monica is no exception. Adjusted for how many girls are born in each state, Monica is most common in WA (0.5 per 1,000), TN (0.4 per 1,000), FL (0.4 per 1,000), NJ (0.4 per 1,000), CA (0.4 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 0.3 per 1,000 girls. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Monica is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
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
How old is the name Monica?
In official American birth records, the name Monica first appeared in 1880 (over 145 years ago), when 6 newborn girls received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
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. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.