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At a Glance
- Meaning
- Varies by origin: 'fish' (Sanskrit/Hindi मीना), 'blue enamel/glass' or a flower name (Persian مینا), or a short form of Wilhelmina ('resolute protector', Germanic)
- Origin
- Multiple (Sanskrit, Persian, or Germanic short form)
- Gender
- Girl
- Pronunciation
- MEE-nah
Mina (pronounced MEE-nah) is a girl's name that comes from more than one language, so its meaning depends on which origin you go by: 'fish' in Sanskrit, 'blue enamel/glass' or a flower name in Persian, or a short form of Wilhelmina meaning 'resolute protector' in Germanic tradition. If you've come across the claim that Mina means 'love,' that's not accurate — it isn't derived from a Latin root with that meaning, so it's worth anchoring to one of its real origins instead. With its short, modern feel, it's a name that reads clean and contemporary no matter which meaning you choose to draw from.
Meaning & Origin of Mina
Meaning: Varies by origin: 'fish' (Sanskrit/Hindi मीना), 'blue enamel/glass' or a flower name (Persian مینا), or a short form of Wilhelmina ('resolute protector', Germanic).
Origin: multiple (Sanskrit, Persian, or Germanic short form).
A common claim: Mina means 'love' Actually: Mina doesn't derive from a Latin root meaning 'love' — its real origins are Sanskrit ('fish'), Persian ('blue enamel/glass' or a flower), or a Germanic short form of Wilhelmina ('resolute protector').
Source: Wiktionary, Wikipedia.
How to Pronounce Mina
MEE-nahIPA /ˈmiːnə/
Popularity of Mina
SSA records show Mina peaked at #175 in 1880, when 73 babies were given the name, and most recently sat at #608 in 2024 with 493 babies — so even though it's ranked lower today, more babies are actually being named Mina now than at its 1880 peak.
Names Like Mina
These names share Mina’s style, era or origin.
FAQ
What does the name Mina mean?
Varies by origin: ‘fish’ (Sanskrit/Hindi मीना), ‘blue enamel/glass’ or a flower name (Persian مینا), or a short form of Wilhelmina (‘resolute protector’, Germanic). (Source: Wiktionary)
How do you pronounce Mina?
Mina is pronounced MEE-nah (IPA: /ˈmiːnə/).
Is Mina a popular name right now?
Mina peaked at #175 in 1880 and is ranked #608 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1880–2024.)
Make Mina Name Art
Free printable nursery art for Mina, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.
📊 How popular is Mina? See the full popularity history, trend data, and ranking since 1880 with our free Baby Name Popularity Checker.
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