Given name & surname
Minerva
Minerva is a surname from Italian. It is used in English and Spanish.
Meaning & origin
Where it comes from
An origin associated with this spelling is Latin.
The story
In mythological stories, Minerva is associated with the goddess of wisdom.
Minerva through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 15,823
- 0 boys · 15,823 girls
- Most popular year
- 1955
- 221 babies
- 2025
- 89
- #2,112 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +15%
- Rising
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 89 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 2,112 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 14.9% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 221 in 1955. In 2025, California had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (16). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 18,562 as a first name in 2020; 648 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Minerva’s family of names
In English usage, Minerva has a diminutive in Minnie. Minerva has a related form in Menerva. In Cebuano usage, Minerva has a diminutive in MINMIN.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Nicknames & forms 7
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 2
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Across languages 1
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
People named Minerva
- Minerva Fabienne HaseGerman figure skaterborn 1999
- Minerva J. ChapmanAmerican artist (1858-1947)
- Minerva Mirabal ReyesDominican lawyer and political activist1926–1960
- Minerva Urecalactress (1894-1966)
- Minerva BernardinoDominican diplomat1907–1998
- Citlalli HernándezMexican politicianborn 1990
- Minerva MallioriGreek politician and physicianborn 1952
- Minerva Parker NicholsAmerican architect (1863–1949)
- Minerva PiousAmerican actress (1903-1979)
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Minerva, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
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Diane is used as a given name and a surname. Diane is connected with Diana.
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Dianne
Dianne is a feminine given name from Latin.
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“goddess”
>99% girls
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“one who is lame”
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Runcina
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