Sophia Girl
soh-FEE-uh
“wisdom” · Greek
#5
Mina
GirlGerman, Persian· “short form of names like Wilhelmina”
- Meaning
- short form of names like Wilhelmina
- Origin
- German, Persian
- Pronunciation
- MEE-nuh
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- #597
- US babies 2025
- 491
- Best rank
- #175 (1880)
- Peak year
- 2023
Meaning and origin of Mina
Mina is a German and Persian name that is usually said to mean “short form of names like Wilhelmina”.
Mina has several independent roots. In German and Dutch it began as a short form of Wilhelmina, the feminine of Wilhelm, "resolute protector." In Persian, mina means "enamel" or "azure glass," and it is used as a given name in Iran. In literature, Mina Harker is the resourceful heroine of Bram Stoker's Dracula. The name is also used in Japanese, Korean and other languages with their own meanings. Mina is short, gentle and international, easy to pronounce in many languages.
Other spellings with the same sound: Mena.
Popularity over time
Mina has been given to babies in the United States since at least 1880, the first year of Social Security records. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 87 different years. Its best national rank was #175 in 1880, and the most babies received it in 2023, when 512 were named Mina. In 2025, 491 babies were named Mina, and it ranked #597 nationally. That is 33% more than ten years earlier, so it is clearly on the rise.
Its national rank moved from #601 in 1920, #1,267 in 1950, #1,899 in 1980, #1,147 in 2000, #964 in 2010, and #597 in 2025. Of the 19,267 US girls named Mina since records began, 20% were born in the 2010s, its biggest decade. The 2020s come next, with 2,927 babies.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Aliana, Rosalia, Sariyah, Zariyah, and Noemi.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Mina ranked highest in Oregon, New York, and California.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| Oregon | #288 | 13 |
| New York | #355 | 48 |
| California | #386 | 86 |
| Minnesota | #417 | 13 |
| Pennsylvania | #425 | 26 |
Gender, sound and spelling
About 96% of US babies named Mina over the last 20 years were girls, with a small share of boys.
Mina is usually pronounced MEE-nuh, with two syllables. It has four letters, starts with M and ends in “-na”. Names that sound the same but are spelled differently include Mena.
Middle names for Mina
A few middle names that flow with Mina: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Mina
Similar names
Raina Girl
RAY-nuh
“possibly queen” · Slavic
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LAY-luh
“night” · Arabic
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LAY-luh
“night” · Arabic
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Lena Girl
LEE-nuh
“short form of Helena or Magdalena” · German
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Leyla Girl
LAY-luh
“night” · Turkish
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Mariana Girl
mar-ee-AH-nuh
“of Marius; also Maria plus Ana” · Latin
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Fiona Girl
fee-OH-nuh
“fair, white” · Scottish
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Heidi Girl
HY-dee
“noble kind” · German
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Danna Girl
DAH-nuh
“variant of Dana; origin uncertain” · Spanish
#394
Hanna Girl
HA-nuh
“grace, favor” · Hebrew
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Jimena Girl
hih-MEH-nuh
Spanish
#578
Helena Girl
HEH-luh-nuh
“uncertain; possibly torch or light” · Greek
#363
Lists that include Mina
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Mina mean?
Mina is a German and Persian name that is usually said to mean “short form of names like Wilhelmina”.
What is the origin of the name Mina?
Mina has German and Persian roots. Mina has several independent roots.
Is Mina a popular name?
Yes. Mina ranked #597 in the US in 2025, which makes it in the top 1,000.
Is Mina a boy or girl name?
Mina is mainly a girl's name. About 96% of US babies named Mina over the last 20 years were girls, with a small share of boys.
How do you pronounce Mina?
Mina is usually pronounced MEE-nuh. 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