The name is a diminutive offshoot of any name beginning or containing the -min element, though it is mostly popular linked with Wilhelmina, Minna & Minerva. It was one of the most popular female names at the turn of the 20th-century, appeared in the Top 10 Most Popular Female Names in the United States between 1880-1891, peaking at #5 between 1880-1886. The name finally fell off the charts in 1971 and has not been seen since.
In the U.K, it is currently climbing the charts, Minnie is currently the 285th Most Popular Female Name in England & Wales (2018).
The name was also common in other Germanic & Northern European countries during the turn of the 20th-century.
It’s popularity may have dropped after the introduction of the Disney Character, Minnie Mouse in 1928.
Other forms include:
- Minni (Finnish)
- Minný (Icelandic)
A notable modern bearer is Minnie Driver (b. 1970).
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