Sophia Girl
soh-FEE-uh
“wisdom” · Greek
#5
Mimi
GirlFrench, Hebrew· “pet form of Maria or Miriam”
- Meaning
- pet form of Maria or Miriam
- Origin
- French, Hebrew
- Pronunciation
- MEE-mee
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- #7,765
- US babies 2025
- 14
- Best rank
- #796 (1956)
- Peak year
- 1961
Meaning and origin of Mimi
Mimi is a French and Hebrew name that is usually said to mean “pet form of Maria or Miriam”.
Mimi is a pet form of Maria, Miriam and other names beginning with M, and in French it is also a general term of affection. It is said MEE-mee. Its best-known bearer in the arts is Mimì, the seamstress who is the heroine of Puccini's opera La Bohème. In the United States it has long been used as a nickname and sometimes as a full name, and it is also a common name for a grandmother. The repeated syllable gives it a childlike quality, and it is often chosen as a nickname for Amelia, Naomi or Emilia.
Popularity over time
Mimi first appears in US Social Security records in 1900. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 25 different years, starting in 1937. Its best national rank was #796 in 1956, and the most babies received it in 1961, when 168 were named Mimi. In 2025, 14 babies were named Mimi, and it ranked #7,765 nationally. That is 39% fewer than ten years earlier, so it is becoming less common.
Its national rank moved from #1,368 in 1920, #891 in 1950, #1,524 in 1980, #3,150 in 2000, #4,931 in 2010, and #7,765 in 2025. Of the 6,950 US girls named Mimi since records began, 19% were born in the 1960s, its biggest decade. The 1950s come next, with 1,281 babies. Since 2010, 375 more have been named Mimi.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Carleen, Joellen, Juliann, Cathi, and Treva.
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for girls.
Mimi is usually pronounced MEE-mee, with two syllables. It has four letters, starts with M and ends in “-mi”.
Middle names for Mimi
A few middle names that flow with Mimi: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Mimi
Similar names
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AH-mee
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Rachelle Girl
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Michel Unisex
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Lists that include Mimi
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Mimi mean?
Mimi is a French and Hebrew name that is usually said to mean “pet form of Maria or Miriam”.
What is the origin of the name Mimi?
Mimi has French and Hebrew roots. Mimi is a pet form of Maria, Miriam and other names beginning with M, and in French it is also a general term of affection.
Is Mimi a popular name?
Not especially. Mimi ranked #7,765 in the US in 2025, which puts it outside the top 1,000.
Is Mimi a boy or girl name?
Mimi is mainly a girl's name. In the US it is used almost only for girls.
How do you pronounce Mimi?
Mimi is usually pronounced MEE-mee. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings