About the name Mina
Etymology & meaning
Mina comes from the Greek Μηνᾶς, linked to the mythic name Men and to "month, moon". Bulgarian derives Minka, Mincho and the surname Minchev from it.
History & patron saint
Saint Menas the Great Martyr was a 3rd-century Egyptian soldier, most venerated as a swift helper of travellers and finders of the lost. His memory on 11 November joins Mina, Viktor and Vikentiy in one feast; the Obradovski monastery near Sofia is dedicated to him.
Traditions & customs
On Saint Menas's day people light candles "for finding what is lost" — from possessions to life's paths. Celebrants keep an autumn table; the Saint Mina monastery draws its largest crowds on the day itself.
Popularity & notable bearers
Mina today serves mostly as a female name and is climbing steadily among newborn girls — short, soft and ancient at once.