Minya is a city, central administrative district, and the capital of Minya governorate. It is located in the geographic center of the governorate, beside the Nile. During the pre-history period, before 3,100 BC, Minya included the Minya of today and its surrounding lands. It remained independent from the state until the era of King Menes, who united Upper and Lower Egypt in about 3,200 BC. At that time, Egypt was divided into 42 provinces.  Minya was Province 16 and known as ‘Al-Maha’, meaning a type of local antelope, perhaps for the prevalence of these animals in the area.

During the Pharaonic era, Minya was called ‘Meni,’ which means ‘nurse of Pharaoh.’   During the Islamic age it was known as ‘Muniyat Ibn El-Khasib, meaning ‘hope of Ibn El-Khasib’ because a well-known and just ruler, whose name was Ibn El-Khasib, wished to rule it. After a long time, the people abbreviated the name to Minya.