Monica
MOH-ni-kə
A classic feminine name often linked to advice, though its deepest origin is uncertain.
Meaning
The 19th-century sources give Monica an uncertain etymology. One tradition connects it with Latin moneo, meaning “to advise,” while another suggests an Italian form from monaca, “nun,” or from monachus, “monk.” The excerpt also notes that the name of St. Augustine’s mother had “never been accounted for,” so the origin remains debated.
Origin
LatinItalianFrenchIrishfeminine
Fun fact
The sources specifically mention Monica as the name of St. Augustine’s mother, which helped keep the name in use.
Confidence: mixed. Sources: History of Christian Names, Praenomina; or, the etymology of the principal Christian names of Great Britain and Ireland.