Originating from Latin, 'Monica' is derived from the masculine form of the word 'monicus', meaning 'alone'. Historically, Monica was a popular saint's name, inspired by Saint Monica, the mother of Augustine of Hippo, a prominent theologian in the early Christian church. The name gained significant usage during medieval times and has remained a classic choice among English-speaking countries.
The name Monica experienced varying popularity over the decades, peaking between 1968 and 1982 with consistently high numbers of births each year, reaching a peak of 43 births in 1980. After this period, its popularity steadily declined, with only single-digit births occurring from 1995 onwards, suggesting it has become less common in recent years.