UK girl's name
Monika
A feminine name of Greek origin meaning "alone" or "unique".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Monika is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Monika popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3015, with 8 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2012, with 37 births.
This profile covers 589 England and Wales registrations across 29 recorded years from 1996 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales and NRS Scotland, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
The latest count is about 22% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 605 living people in the UK are called Monika. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2025 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Monika ranked #3015 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 8 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2012, when 37 girls were registered as Monika.
- • Monika ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #765 in 2020.
- • About 605 living people in the UK are estimated to have Monika as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#3015
2024
Births in 2024
8
Latest year
Peak year
2012
37 births
Estimated living
605
2026
Meaning
What does Monika mean?
The name Monika originated from the Late Latin name "Monica," which is derived from the Greek word "monos," meaning "alone" or "singular." The name gained popularity in the early Christian era and has been used across various cultures and regions.
The earliest recorded use of the name Monica dates back to the 4th century AD, when it was borne by St. Monica, the mother of the influential philosopher and theologian St. Augustine. St. Monica was known for her strong Christian faith and her perseverance in prayer, which eventually led to her son's conversion to Christianity.
During the Middle Ages, the name Monika was relatively uncommon, but it gained renewed popularity in the Renaissance period. One notable figure from this era was Monika von Rosenfeld (1455-1543), a German noblewoman and writer who authored several religious texts and played a significant role in the Protestant Reformation.
In the 18th century, the name Monika was particularly popular in Central and Eastern Europe. One famous bearer of the name from this period was Monika Żórawska (1762-1842), a Polish writer and translator who was instrumental in promoting the works of William Shakespeare in her native country.
The 19th century saw the name Monika gain popularity across Europe and beyond. One notable figure was Monika Perton (1847-1918), a Swedish journalist and suffragette who fought for women's rights and the abolition of censorship laws.
In the 20th century, the name Monika continued to be widely used, particularly in German-speaking countries. One famous bearer of the name was Monika Gedeck (1951-present), a German actress known for her roles in films such as "The Lives of Others" and "The Wave."
Another notable figure was Monika Seleš (1973-present), a former professional tennis player from Yugoslavia (now Serbia) who won nine Grand Slam singles titles and was ranked World No. 1 in 1991 and 1992.
Throughout its history, the name Monika has been associated with qualities such as individuality, strength, and perseverance, reflecting its Greek roots and the legacy of its early Christian bearers.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Monika over time
The chart below shows babies named Monika registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Monika, the clearest high point is 2012. The latest England and Wales figure is 8 births in 2024, compared with 37 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Monika by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Monika was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | #2092 | 74 | 5 |
| 2010s | #1267 | 274 | 10 |
| 2000s | #1559 | 168 | 10 |
| 1990s | #1262 | 73 | 4 |
Geography
Where Monika is most common
The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Monika. They are useful for spotting where the name is showing up in real numbers, while the rank beside each bar shows how strongly it performs inside that region.
Monika ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #765 in 2020.
Across the UK
Monika in Scotland and Northern Ireland
Scotland (NRS)
#765 in 2020
6 years of NRS records, 19 total registered
Notable bearers
Famous people named Monika
-
Monika Maria Möhring
economist
economist
2000-
-
Monika Januszkiewicz
researcher
researcher
1992-
-
Monika Smolar
psychotherapist; clinical psychologist
Polish-born British psychotherapist
1966-
-
Monika Kackovic
video artist
Related
Names similar to Monika
- Megan 70,884
- Mia 67,204
- Molly 47,734
- Millie 44,390
- Maisie 32,671
- Matilda 29,965
- Maya 26,445
- Madison 18,441
- Maria 17,304
- Mollie 15,914
- Martha 15,116
- Maddison 14,918
FAQ
Monika: questions and answers
How popular is the name Monika in the UK right now?
In 2024, Monika was ranked #3015 for girls in England and Wales, with 8 births registered.
When was Monika most popular?
The peak year on record was 2012, with 37 babies registered as Monika in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Monika?
A feminine name of Greek origin meaning "alone" or "unique".
How many people are called Monika in the UK?
A total of 589 babies have been registered as Monika across the 29 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 19 more in Scotland.
Where is Monika most common?
In the latest published local rankings, Monika ranks best in Scotland, where it placed #765 in 2020. The regional bars on this page use birth counts, so they also reflect the size of each region.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.