Monica is a female given name with many variant forms, including Mónica (Spanish and European Portuguese), Mônica (Brazilian Portuguese), Monique (French), Monicka, Monika, Moniqua, Monike, Mónika, Monnica, Moneca and Moneeca.
Monica is an ancient name of North African origin (now Algeria) whose etymology is unknown. The earliest reference to the name is found in ancient Numidian inscriptions. The name might include a reference to the ancient Libyan god Mon. Saint Augustine's mother was named Monica, and she was born in Numidia, North Africa, although she also was a citizen of Carthage, hence the possibility it may be of Punic origin. It has also been associated with the Greek word monos, meaning "alone". Monica is also a name in Latin, deriving from the verb monere, meaning 'to advise.'
Saint Monica's feast day is 27 August, and Monica is the patron saint of married women.
One of the early occurrences of the name in literature is the character Monica Thorne in the 1858 novel Doctor Thorne by Anthony Trollope.
In the United States, the name's popularity reached a peak in 1977 when it was the 39th most popular female name for new births. The popularity has gradually waned since then, being 76th most popular in 1990, and 363rd in 2010.
In the European tradition of name day celebration, the date for the name Monica or Monika varies from country to country. In Hungary it is 4 May, as it is in Sweden. In Slovakia it is 7 May, and in the Czech Republic it is celebrated on 21 May. In Poland it is celebrated on 27 August and 4 May. In Latvia it is celebrated on 6 October and in Greece on 15 June.
Monica Aksamit, American fencerMonica Ali (born 1967), British authorMonica Arnold (born 1980), American singer, professionally known as "Monica"Monica Aspelund (born 1946), Finnish singerMonica Bandini (born 1964), Italian road racing cyclistMonica Bellucci (born 1964), Italian actressMonica Birwinyo (born 1990), Ugandan actressMonica Brant (born 1970), American fitness/figure competitor and modelMónica Cruz (born 1977), Spanish actressMonica Dickens (1915–1992), British author of books for adults and childrenMonica Edwards (1912–1998), British children's authorMonica Evans (born 1940), British actressMónica Falcioni (born 1968), Uruguayan long and triple jumperMonica Goodling (born 1973), former Director of Public Affairs for the U.S. Department of JusticeMonica Horan (born 1963), American actressMonica of Hippo (322–387), Numidian saint, the mother of Saint AugustineMonica Iozzi (born 1981), Brazilian actress and reporter.Monica Keena (born 1979), American actressMonica Lewinsky (born 1973), former White House intern who had an affair with U.S. President Bill ClintonMónica López, Argentine politicianMonica Macovei, Romanian politicianMonica Naisen (died 1626), Japanese Roman Catholic martyr beatified in 1867Mónica Naranjo (born 1974), Spanish singerMonica Niculescu (born 1987), Romanian tennis playerMónica Pont (born 1969), Spanish long-distance runnerMonica Potter (born 1971), American actressMonica Raymund (born 1986), American actressMónica Regonesi (born 1961), Chilean long-distance runnerMonica Rial, American voice actress and ADR directorMônica Rodrigues (born 1967), Brazilian volleyball playerMonica Seles (born 1973), American-Serbian tennis playerMónica Vergara (born 1983), Mexican female footballerMonica Vitti (born 1931), Italian actressMonica Yunus (born 1979), Bangladeshi-Russian-American opera singerMonica Zetterlund (1937–2005), Swedish singer and actressMonica in the film Dawn of the Dead, played by Kim PoirierMonica, the lead character in the Brazilian comic book Monica's GangMonica the angel in the TV show Touched by an AngelMonica Geller in the TV show FriendsMonica Madden in George Gissing's 1893 novel The Odd WomenMonica Quartermaine in American soap opera General HospitalMonica Raybrandt, female protagonist of the video game Dark ChronicleMonica Thorne in Trollope's 1858 novel Doctor ThorneMonica in the TV show Silicon Valley