Given name & surname
Minnie
“determined protector”
In English use, Minnie is a diminutive of Wilhelmina. In German use, Wilhelmina carries the interpretation “determined protector.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
In English use, Minnie carries the interpretation “determined protector.” In English use, Minnie is a diminutive of Wilhelmina. In German use, Wilhelmina carries the interpretation “determined protector.”
Combines direct and name-family evidence
Where it comes from
An origin associated with this spelling is English.
How it developed
In English use, Minnie is used as an affectionate form of Wilhelmina.
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. In English use, Minnie is a diminutive of Hermione. The history of Hermione gives this family its wider story. In classical mythology, Hermione is the daughter of Helen and Menelaus and later marries Orestes. Shakespeare used the name for a central character in The Winter’s Tale.
Combines direct and name-family evidence
Minnie through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 160,067
- 787 boys · 159,280 girls
- Most popular year
- 1919
- 3,288 babies
- 2025
- 54
- #3,060 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −17%
- Easing
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 54 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 3,060 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 17.1% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 3,274 in 1916. In 2025, Oklahoma had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (7). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 20,922 as a first name in 2020; 569 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.
Minnie’s family of names
In English usage, Minnie is a diminutive of Mary. Minnie is a form of Wilhelmina. In English usage, Minnie is a diminutive of Minerva.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Nicknames & forms 11
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
- Maryfull form · English
- Minafull form · English
- Wilhelminafull form · English
- Hermionefull form · English
- Minervafull form · English
- Mamiefull form · English
- Minneavariant
- Minneevariant
Show 3 moreShow fewer
Spellings & scripts 3
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Across languages 5
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
People named Minnie
- Minnie DriverBritish-American actress (born 1970)
- Minnie RipertonAmerican singer (1947–1979)
- Minnie HaukAmerican singer and actor (1851-1929)
- Minnie DlaminiSouth African on-air personality, actress and modelborn 1990
- Minnie PearlAmerican comedian and country singer (1912–1996)
- Minnie PwerleIndigenous Australian artist from Utopia, Northern Territory (c.1920-2006)
- Minnie Maddern FiskeAmerican actress, playwright, and editor (1865–1932)
- Kathy StaffBritish actress (1928–2008)
- Minnie BaldockUK suffragette (1864-1954)
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Minnie, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Verna
“woman from Verona” · “from the alder-tree grove”
>99% girls
Malvina
“having a smooth brow”
>99% girls
Marjorie
Marjorie is used as a form of Margaret.
>99% girls
Marguerite
“resembling a pearl” · “the child of light”
>99% girls
Maida
“a maiden; a virgin”
>99% girls
Elzie
“from the nobleman's estate”
19% boys · 81% girls
Sibyl
“a prophetess; a seer”
>99% girls
Herminia
“a messenger of the gods”
>99% girls