Minka

Polish diminutive of Mina, short form of Wilhelmina, German

"resolute protection"

Minka Origin and Meaning

The name Minka is a girl's name of Polish origin meaning "resolute protection".

In the contemporary US, Minka attracted notice via actress Minka Kelly, who played the gorgeous Lyla on Friday Night Lights.

This cute and lively nickname name can (and does) certainly stand on its own, but it can also be a diminutive of the diminutive Mina, short for Wilhelmina or any name ending in -mina.

While Minka has never charted on the US Top 1000 and was given to only a few dozen baby girls last year, Mina is staging a comeback after several decades off the list following World War II, when many German names fell out of fashion.

Popularity of the name Minka

• 876 Nameberry 2025

20 Names Similar to Minka

These 20 names were selected by our users that were looking for other names like Minka.

• Bonnibel
• Topanga
• Bluma
• Galilee
• Peri
• Ibby
• Jericho
• Ode
• Matisse
• Tansy
• Anise
• Minta
• Lulie
• Minty
• Bijou
• Laramie
• Serene
• Lolo
• Olivine
• Paz

Famous People Named Minka

• Minka Dumont Kelly American actress
• Minka Pradelski German filmmaker and novelist

The name Minka in Pop Culture

• Minka Kropotkin Tommy's grandmother on animated series Rugrats
• Minka Singer character in 'The Storyteller' by Jodi Picoult
• Minka character in comic opera "Le roi malgré lui" by Emmanuel Chabrier