Given name & surname
Minna
“determined protector”·“one who is resolute; having great strength”·“woman from the South”
In German use, Minna is an affectionate form of Wilhelmina. In German use, Wilhelmina carries the interpretation “determined protector.” Minna is a variant of Minka. One interpretation is “one who is resolute; having great strength.”
Original GermanWilhelmina
Meaning & origin
What it means
In German use, Minna is an affectionate form of Wilhelmina. In German use, Wilhelmina carries the interpretation “determined protector.” Minna is a variant of Minka. One interpretation is “one who is resolute; having great strength.” Minna is a variant of Mina. Interpretations include “woman from the South” and “one who is greatly loved”. These belong to different or overlapping naming contexts.
Explained through its name family
How it developed
In German usage, Minna is a diminutive of Wilhelmina. In German usage, Minna is a short form of Wilhelmine.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1880. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Minna through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 3,151
- 0 boys · 3,151 girls
- Most popular year
- 1916
- 54 babies
- 2025
- 29
- #4,722 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −18%
- Easing
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 29 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 4,722 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 18.1% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 54 in 1916. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 1,750 as a first name in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Minna’s family of names
In German usage, Minna is a diminutive of Wilhelmina. Minna has a related form in Mina. Minna is an affectionate form of Wilhelmina.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Nicknames & forms 8
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 2
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
People named Minna
- Minna CanthFinnish writer, editor (1844-1897)
- Minna KauppiFinnish orienteerborn 1982
- Minna HaapkyläFinnish actressborn 1973
- Minna NieminenFinnish rowerborn 1976
- Minna AaltonenFinnish actress (1966–2021)
- Minna GombellAmerican actress (1892–1973)
- Minna SalamiFinnish-Nigerian journalistborn 1978
- Minna CauerGerman journalist, editor (1841–1922)
- Minna AthertonAustralian swimmerborn 2000
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Appears in
Similar names
If you love Minna, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
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