Milan
Milan is a common Slavic male name and less commonly, a Roman name. It is derived from the Slavic element mil, with meanings kind, loving, and gracious. Milan was originally a diminutive or nickname for those whose Slavic names began with "Mil-".
Meaning & Origin of Milan
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Milan is a common Slavic male name and less commonly, a Roman name. It is derived from the Slavic element mil, with meanings kind, loving, and gracious. Milan was originally a diminutive or nickname for those whose Slavic names began with "Mil-".
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
The Story of Milan
As a girl name
Milan first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a girl name in 1969, with 8 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2013, when 479 Milans were born — ranking #593 that year. As of 2026, Milan ranks #704 for girls with 406 births, holding steady (+2%). In total, more than 10K Milans have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1960s through the 2020s.
As a boy name
Milan first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a boy name in 1885, with 6 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2026, when 1,786 Milans were born — ranking #198 that year. As of 2026, Milan ranks #198 for boys with 1,786 births, rising sharply (+116% over the past five years). In total, more than 21K Milans have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1880s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Names that sound like Milan
Phonetically similar names — useful when Milan is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.
Frequently Asked Questions about Milan
What does the name Milan mean?
How popular is Milan in 2026?
When was Milan most popular?
In which U.S. states is Milan most popular?
Is Milan a unisex name?
What names go well with Milan?
About the name Milan
Milan is a unisex baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1885 and has accumulated 21K births in the dataset. Milan's peak popularity came in 2026 when it ranked #198. Use the chart and map above to compare Milan's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 2026 →
- Names of the 2020s →
- Names starting with "M" →
- Browse all boy names →
- Top names of 2026 →
- Browse unisex names →
Data sources
- Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
- Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
- Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
- Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
- Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .
Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.