Monica is a female

given name A given name (also known as a forename or first name) is the part of a personal name quoted in that identifies a person, potentially with a middle name as well, and differentiates that person from the other members of a group (typically a fa ...

with many variant forms, including Mónica (Italian, Spanish and Portuguese), Mônica (Brazilian Portuguese),

Monique Monique is a female given name. It is the French form of the name Monica. The name has enjoyed some popularity in the United States since about 1955, and is less common in other English-speaking countries except for Canada although mostly used ...

(French), Monika (German, Indian), Moonika (Estonia), and Mónika (Hungarian).

History

The etymology of ''Monica'' is unknown. Its earliest attestation known today is as the name of Saint Monica, mother of Saint Augustine. St. Monica was born in

Numidia Numidia ( Berber: ''Inumiden''; 202–40 BC) was the ancient kingdom of the Numidians located in northwest Africa, initially comprising the territory that now makes up modern-day Algeria, but later expanding across what is today known as Tunis ...

in North Africa, but was also a citizen of Carthage, hence the name may be of Punic or Berber origin. It has also been associated with the Greek word ''monos'', meaning "alone". Though etymologically unrelated, "Monica" was also a name in Latin, deriving from the verb ''monere'', meaning 'to advise.' One of the early occurrences of the name in modern literature is the character Monica Thorne in the 1858 novel ''

Doctor Thorne ''Doctor Thorne'' by Anthony Trollope (Chapman and Hall, London, 1858) is the third novel in the ''Chronicles of Barsetshire'' series, between ''Barchester Towers'' and ''Framley Parsonage''. The idea of the plot was suggested to Trollope by ...

'' by

Anthony Trollope Anthony Trollope (; 24 April 1815 – 6 December 1882) was an English novelist and civil servant of the Victorian era. Among his best-known works is a series of novels collectively known as the '' Chronicles of Barsetshire'', which revolves ar ...

Popularity

In the United States, the name's popularity reached a peak in 1977, when it was the 39th most popular female name for new births. The popularity has gradually waned since then, being 76th most popular in 1990, and 363rd in 2010.Popular Baby Names
, United States Social Security Administration, search term: "Monica". Retrieved 21 July 2011.

Name day

In the European tradition of name day celebration, the date for the name ''Monica'' or ''Monika'' varies from country to country. In Hungary it is 4 May, as it is in

Sweden Sweden, formally the Kingdom of Sweden,The United Nations Group of Experts on Geographical Names states that the country's formal name is the Kingdom of SwedenUNGEGN World Geographical Names, Sweden./ref> is a Nordic country located on ...

. In Slovakia it is 7 May, and in the Czech Republic it is celebrated on 21 May. In Italy, Poland, Portugal and Spain it is celebrated on 27 August. In Latvia it is celebrated on 6 October and in Greece on 15 June.

Notable people

* Monica Aksamit (born 1990), American fencer * Monica Aldama, American cheerleading coach * Monica Ali (born 1967), British author *

Monica Arnold Monica Denise Arnold (formerly Brown; born October 24, 1980) is an American singer, rapper and actress. Born and raised in College Park, Georgia, she began performing as a child and became part of a traveling gospel choir at the age of ten. Moni ...

(born 1980), American singer, professionally known as "Monica" * Monica Aspelund (born 1946), Finnish singer * Monica Bandini (1964–2021), Italian road racing cyclist *

Monica Bellucci Monica Anna Maria Bellucci (; born 30 September 1964) is an Italian actress and model. She began her career as a fashion model, modelling for Dolce & Gabbana and Dior, before making a transition to Italian films and later American and French ...

(born 1964), Italian actress * Monica Beltran (born 1985), American soldier * Monica Birwinyo (born 1990), Ugandan actress * Monica Brant (born 1970), American fitness/figure competitor and model *

Mónica Carrillo Mónica Carrillo Martínez (born 16 September 1976) is a Spanish journalist and writer who works for Antena 3 on its ''Antena 3 Noticias'' news bulletins. She has worked for Televisión Española on the 24 horas rolling news channel, co-founde ...

(born 1976), Spanish journalist and novelist * Monica Cole (1922–1994), English geographer * Mónica Cruz (born 1977), Spanish actress * Monica Dickens (1915–1992), British author of books for adults and children *

Monica Edwards Monica Edwards (née Monica le Doux Newton; 8 November 1912 – 18 January 1998) was an English children's writer of the mid-twentieth century best known for her Romney Marsh and Punchbowl Farm series of children's novels. Early life She was ...

(1912–1998), British children's author * Monica Evans (born 1940), British actress *

Mónica Falcioni Mónica Jacqueline Falcioni Costa (born October 10, 1968) is a retired long and triple jumper from Uruguay. Career Falcioni represented her native country at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia. There she was the flag bearer A ...

(born 1968), Uruguayan long and triple jumper * Mónica Feria Tinta (born 1966), British/Peruvian barrister, public international law specialist *

Monica Goodling Monica Marie Goodling (born August 6, 1973) is a former United States government lawyer and Republican political appointee in the George W. Bush administration who is best known for her role in the Dismissal of U.S. Attorneys Controversy in 2006. ...

(born 1973), former Director of Public Affairs for the U.S. Department of Justice * Monica Hickmann Alves (born 1987), Brazilian footballer *

Monica De Gennaro Monica De Gennaro Santarelli (born 8 January 1987) is an Italian professional volleyball player. She plays for Imoco Volley Conegliano and for the Italy women's national volleyball team. She competed at the 2012 Summer Olympics and 2016 Summer Oly ...

(born 1987), Italian volleyball player * Monica Horan (born 1963), American actress *

Monica of Hippo Monica ( – 387) was an early North African Christian saint and the mother of Augustine of Hippo. She is remembered and honored in the Catholic and Orthodox Churches, albeit on different feast days, for her outstanding Christian virtues, partic ...

(322–387), Numidian saint, the mother of Saint Augustine * Monica Iozzi (born 1981), Brazilian actress and reporter * Monica Keena (born 1979), American actress *

Mónica Kräuter Mónica Kräuter (born 18 September 1967) is a Venezuelan chemist and professor of the Simón Bolívar University. Kräuter gained notability during the 2017 Venezuelan protests due to her study of tear gas canisters and her advice on how to pr ...

(born 1967), Venezuelan chemist and professor * Monica Lewinsky (born 1973), American White House intern and scandal celebrity * Monica Lierhaus (born 1970), German sports journalist and television host *

Mónica López (politician) Mónica López is an Argentine politician. she was a provincial deputy in Buenos Aires Province. In October 2011, she was the candidate for the provincial vice-governorship on Francisco de Narváez's ticket as part of the Union for Social Developm ...

, Argentine politician * Monica Macovei, Romanian politician *

Mónica Martínez Mónica Martínez Pascual (born 16 April 1975) is a Spanish journalist, model and television presenter. She began her television career presenting the ' youth programme at the age of 15, and has presented television programmes on the Antena 3, C ...

(born 1975), Spanish journalist, model and television presenter * Mónica Montañés (born 1966), Venezuelan screenwriter and journalist. * Monica Murnan (born 1966), American politician * Monica Naisen (died 1626), Japanese Roman Catholic martyr beatified in 1867 * Mónica Naranjo (born 1974), Spanish singer *

Monica von Neumann Monica Ann Neumann von Héthárs, also known as Baroness Monica von Neumann, (née Ford; June 15, 1964 – March 5, 2019), was an American socialite, philanthropist, and businesswoman. She worked as a fashion model and dancer before marrying Jo ...

, American socialite * Monica Niculescu (born 1987), Romanian tennis player * Mónica Pont (born 1969), Spanish long-distance runner * Monica Potter (born 1971), American actress * Monica Raymund (born 1986), American actress *

Mónica Regonesi Mónica Patricia Regonesi Muranda (born April 27, 1961) is long-distance runner from Chile. She competed for her native country at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, California. There she ended up in 32nd place in the women's marathon. Regone ...

(born 1961), Chilean long-distance runner *

Monica Rial Monica Jean Rial (born October 5, 1975) is an American voice actress and ADR script writer affiliated with Funimation and Seraphim Digital/Sentai Filmworks. She provides voices for English language versions of Japanese anime films and televisi ...

, American voice actress and ADR director *

Mônica Rodrigues Mônica Rodrigues (born September 20, 1967 in Rio de Janeiro) is a retired Brazilian female volleyball player. She won the silver medal in the inaugural women's beach volleyball tournament at the 1996 Summer Olympics, partnering with Adriana Samu ...

(born 1967), Brazilian volleyball player *

Monica Ruwanpathirana Kala Keerthi Monica Ruwanpathirana ( si, මොනිකා රුවන්පතිරණ) (1946 – 2004) was a Sri Lankan poet and writer. She is considered one of the most acclaimed poets in modern Sinhala poetry. She has written 23 books, ...

, Sri Lankan poet *

Monica Simpson Monica Simpson is a queer Black activist, artist, and executive director of SisterSong Women of Color Reproductive Justice Collective, the United States' largest organization dedicated to reproductive justice for women of color. Biography Monica ...

, American reproductive rights activist * Monica Seles (born 1973), American-Serbian tennis player *

Monica VanDieren Monica M. VanDieren is an American mathematician specializing in mathematical logic and model theory. She is University Professor of Mathematics and Director of the University Honors Program at Robert Morris University. Education and career VanDie ...

, American mathematician *

Mónica Vergara Mónica Vergara Rubio (born 2 May 1983) is a Mexican professional football manager. Vergara is the former manager of the Mexico women's national football team. Before her manager career, Vergara was a member of the senior Mexico women's team, ...

(born 1983), Mexican footballer * Monica Vitti (born 1931), Italian actress *

Monica Yunus Monica Yunus (born 1979) is an American operatic soprano who has performed with many opera companies and music ensembles. She is the daughter of Bangladeshi social entrepreneur, banker, Noble Laurette economist Muhammad Yunus. About her singing q ...

(born 1979), Bangladeshi-Russian-American opera singer * Monica Zetterlund (1937–2005), Swedish singer and actress

Fictional characters

* Monica Geller in the TV series ''

Friends ''Friends'' is an American television sitcom created by David Crane and Marta Kauffman, which aired on NBC from September 22, 1994, to May 6, 2004, lasting ten seasons. With an ensemble cast starring Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa ...

'' * Monica Gallagher in the TV series ''Shameless'' (UK) and ''Shameless'' (US) * Monica Madden in George Gissing's 1893 novel ''

The Odd Women ''The Odd Women'' is an 1893 novel by the English novelist George Gissing. Its themes are the role of women in society, marriage, morals and the early feminist movement. Title The novel's title is derived ostensibly from the notion that there wa ...

'' * Monica Quartermaine in the TV series ''

General Hospital ''General Hospital'' (often abbreviated as ''GH'') is an American daytime television soap opera. It is listed in ''Guinness World Records'' as the list of longest-running television shows by category, longest-running American soap opera in pro ...

'' *

Monica Rambeau Monica Rambeau is a fictional superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Roger Stern and artist John Romita Jr., the character debuted in ''The Amazing Spider-Man Annual'' #16 (October 1982). Monica w ...

in Marvel Comics * Monica Reeves in the film '' Bad Hair Day'' * Monica Vandham in '' Xenoblade Chronicles 3'' * Monica in the film ''

Baby Driver ''Baby Driver'' is a 2017 action film written and directed by Edgar Wright. It stars Ansel Elgort as a getaway driver seeking freedom from a life of crime with his girlfriend Debora (Lily James). Kevin Spacey, Jon Hamm, Eiza González, Jamie ...

'' * Monika in '' Doki Doki Literature Club'' * Monica in the animated series ''

Oggy and the Cockroaches ''Oggy and the Cockroaches'' (french: Oggy et les Cafards) is a French comedy-adventure animated television series produced by Gaumont Multimedia (first two seasons) and Xilam Animation (third season onwards), and created by Jean-Yves Raimbaud, ...

'' *

Monica Monica may refer to: People *Monica (actress) (born 1987), Indian film actress *Monica (given name), a given name (including a list of people and characters with the name) *Monica (singer) (born 1980), American R&B singer, songwriter, producer, ...

in '' Monica's Gang'' * Monica, a crossing guard in '' The Angry Birds Movie'' * Monica in the TV series '' Touched by an Angel''

References