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At a Glance: Name: Minna – Meaning: courtly love (from Germanic minne); also used as a short form of Wilhelmina – Origin: Germanic – Gender: Girl – Pronunciation: MIN-ah
Minna comes from the Germanic word minne, meaning courtly love, and it's also used as a short form of Wilhelmina. You might come across the claim that Minna means "resolute protector," but that meaning actually belongs to Wilhelmina — Minna's more direct root is minne itself. It's pronounced MIN-ah (/ˈmɪnə/), a vintage, timeless, classic pick with Germanic roots.
Meaning & Origin of Minna
Meaning: Courtly love (from germanic minne); also used as a short form of wilhelmina.
Origin: Germanic.
A common claim: Minna means 'resolute protector' as a form of Wilhelmina Actually: 'Resolute protector' comes from Wilhelmina, one of two possible sources for Minna. Its more direct root is the Germanic word minne, meaning '(courtly) love,' independent of Wilhelmina.
Source: Wikipedia.
How to Pronounce Minna
Phonetic: MIN-ah IPA: /ˈmɪnə/
Popularity of Minna
Minna peaked at #369 in 1889, when 43 baby girls were given the name, and by 2024 it had fallen to #4834 with just 28.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration birth-name data, 1880–2024.
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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 Minna mean?
Courtly love (from germanic minne); also used as a short form of wilhelmina. (Source: Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minna_(given_name))
How do you pronounce Minna?
Minna is pronounced MIN-ah (IPA: /ˈmɪnə/).
Is Minna a popular name right now?
Minna peaked at #369 in 1889 and is ranked #4834 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1880–2024.)
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