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At a Glance
- Meaning
- Intellect, wisdom
- Origin
- Latin (possibly Etruscan)
- Gender
- Primarily used for girls
- Pronunciation
- mih-NER-vuh
Minerva is a Latin name, possibly of Etruscan origin, that means intellect and wisdom. It has a classic, bookish ring, and for a parent who wants a name that points toward thoughtfulness, the meaning does the work.
Meaning & Origin of Minerva
Meaning: Intellect, wisdom.
Origin: Latin (possibly Etruscan).
Source: Wiktionary, Wikipedia.
How to Pronounce Minerva
mih-NER-vuhIPA /mɪˈnɜːrvə/
Popularity of Minerva
Minerva ranked #194 in 1880, its peak, with 63 babies given the name. By 2024 it had slipped to #2446, with 74 babies, so it's a rare pick today and a child named Minerva is unlikely to share the name with classmates.
Names Like Minerva
These names have followed a similar path to Minerva in U.S. popularity over the years.
FAQ
What does the name Minerva mean?
Intellect, wisdom. (Source: Wiktionary)
How do you pronounce Minerva?
Minerva is pronounced mih-NER-vuh (IPA: /mɪˈnɜːrvə/).
Is Minerva a popular name right now?
Minerva peaked at #194 in 1880 and is ranked #2446 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1880–2024.)
Make Minerva Name Art
Free printable nursery art for Minerva, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.
📊 How popular is Minerva? See the full popularity history, trend data, and ranking since 1880 with our free Baby Name Popularity Checker.
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