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Minnie

♀ Girl

Pronounced MIHN-ee /ˈmɪn.i/Medium

Meaning: Origin uncertainMedium

In 30 seconds: Minnie is an English name whose origin is uncertain, long used as a warm, old-fashioned short form.
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Origin MediumEnglish
MeaningOrigin uncertain
U.S. rank (2024)#2758 ↗ Rising
2024 U.S. births62 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)
Peak year1916
Total births (all-time)≈ 159,224

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 191618802024

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

History & Origin

The origin of Minnie is uncertain, and the data does not pin it to a single root. In practice it has worked as a pet form, and its recorded variants like Willemina and Vilma hint at the longer names it has stood in for.

Bearers span very different lives, from the actress Minnie Driver to the ballplayer recorded under the name. Its bouncy double-n gives it a playful, vintage charm.

Did you know? The meaning usually attached to Minnie is 'origin uncertain', and that core idea is what gives the name most of its long-term appeal.
Overall data confidence 78%
Behind the Name - Minnie — etymology, usage, pronunciation, and related formsU.S. Social Security Administration — 2024 popularity rank and count supplied in the batch input CSV

Variations

VilmaVilemínaWillemijnWilleminaElma

Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

  • ★Minnie Miñoso (1923–2015)
    Male public figure listed on Behind the Name.
  • ★Minnie Driver (1970–present)
    Female public figure listed on Behind the Name.

Frequently Asked

What does the name Minnie mean?

Minnie is usually explained as meaning 'origin uncertain' and is most often linked with English tradition.

How do you pronounce Minnie?

It's commonly said MIHN-ee /ˈmɪn.i/.

Is Minnie a boy or girl name?

In this batch and in recent U.S. usage data, Minnie is used as a girl name.

How popular is Minnie?

In 2024, Minnie ranked #2758 in the U.S. for girls, with 62 births recorded.