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At a Glance: Name: 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) – 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
Phonetic: MEE-nah IPA: /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.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration birth-name 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.
Names With a Similar Story
Derived from shared style, era, and origin data (or, for names we have no style data for, a similar Social Security popularity trajectory) — not a hand-picked list.
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, https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Mina)
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.)
📊 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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