Minola
A feminine name with uncertain origins, possibly derived from "mina" meaning "mine".
Name Census estimates that about 5 living Americans carry the first name Minola. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Minola today is around 98 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Minola births was 1920 (14 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Minola. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • The typical person named Minola is about 98 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Minolas were born before 1938.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Minola. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
5
~ 1 in 68,550,868 Americans
Peak year
1920
14 babies that year
Average age
98
years old
1944 SSA rank
#5,054
Tracked since 1905
Popularity
Minola: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Minola from the 1900s through to the 1940s, spanning 5 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1920s, with 75 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1920s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Minola by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Minola during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Minola
The name Minola has its origins in the Italian language and culture, believed to have emerged during the Renaissance period in Italy. It is thought to be a diminutive form of the Italian name Mina, which itself is a shortened version of the name Wilhelmina.
Mina is derived from the Germanic name Wilheml, which means "will" or "desire" and "helmet" or "protection." The addition of the suffix "-ina" was a common practice in Italian names, often used to create feminine versions of masculine names. Therefore, Minola likely originated as a pet form or nickname for women named Mina.
While the name Minola does not appear to have any direct historical references in ancient texts or religious scriptures, its roots in the Italian language and culture can be traced back to the Renaissance period, a time of cultural flourishing in art, literature, and intellectual pursuits.
One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Minola dates back to the 16th century. Minola d'Avancourt, born in 1567, was a French noblewoman and courtier during the reign of King Henry IV of France. Her name, though not of French origin, provides an early documented instance of its use.
Another notable figure named Minola was Minola Guidi, an Italian painter active in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. Born in Bologna in 1568, she was known for her religious paintings and portraits, and her work can be found in various churches and galleries across Italy.
In the 19th century, Minola Bortolami (1818-1894) was an Italian operatic soprano who performed in several prestigious opera houses across Europe, including La Scala in Milan.
Minola Fortunata Caputo (1874-1949) was an Italian-American writer and educator who published several novels and short stories depicting the experiences of Italian immigrants in the United States.
Minola Mukherjee (1920-1997) was an Indian painter and printmaker known for her vibrant depictions of rural life and landscapes in her home state of West Bengal.
These are just a few examples of individuals who have borne the name Minola throughout history, spanning different eras, cultures, and professions. While not a widely common name, Minola has left its mark across various disciplines and regions, reflecting its unique Italian heritage and linguistic roots.
People
Minola + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Minola as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with M
Other first names starting with M with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Minola: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Minola?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 5 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Minola going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 68,550,868 US residents.
Is Minola a common name?
We classify Minola as "Very Rare". It ranks above 18.2% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 129 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Minola most popular?
The single biggest year for Minola was 1920, when 14 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Minola is about 98 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Minola in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Minola a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Minola in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Is Minola still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Minola in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Minola can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How common is the name Minola?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.