Minerva

An uncommon Latin pick — distinctive and rare.

Girl's nameLatinRising fast Also a pet name
#2446 361in 2024

Meaning & Origin

The goddess of wisdom, especially strategic warfare, and the arts, especially crafts and in particular weaving. She is the Roman counterpart of Athena.

Minerva is a girl's baby name of Latin origin, the Roman goddess of wisdom, arts, and strategic warfare — the Roman counterpart of the Greek Athena. The etymology is uncertain, possibly from the Proto-Italic menerva related to mens ('mind'). Harry Potter fans will immediately think of Professor Minerva McGonagall, one of literature's most formidably brilliant and fair characters.

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Popularity Over Time

Minerva climbed 352 spots in the last 20 years — from #2798 to #2446.

05511116622118801900192019401960198020002024

Popularity by Decade

Decade-by-decade popularity data for Minerva
DecadeBirthsTrend
2020s403
2010s557
2000s555
1990s669
1980s837
1970s1,070
1960s1,585
1950s1,874
1940s1,337
1930s1,248
1920s1,738
1910s1,591
1900s828
1890s781
1880s661

Year-by-Year Data

View complete yearly data(145 years, 18802024)
Year-by-year popularity data for the name Minerva
YearBirthsRank
202474#2446
202393#2085
202283#2265
202184#2224
202069#2518
201984#2212
201882#2250
201768#2590
201665#2687
201551#3242
201447#3402
201346#3445
201239#3969
201138#3985
201037#4085
200941#3847
200848#3457
200772#2590
200665#2749
200559#2815

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.

Minerva has two lives

Minerva, the baby name
#2446girls
15,734 babies
Currently viewing
Minerva, the pet name
#1779pet name
57 pets
View pet page →

Last updated May 2026 · Data: U.S. Social Security Administration (18802024) · Methodology