Noah Boy
NOH-uh
“rest, comfort” · Hebrew
#2
Milan
UnisexSlavic, Italian· “gracious, dear; also an Italian city”
- Meaning
- gracious, dear; also an Italian city
- Origin
- Slavic, Italian
- Pronunciation
- mih-LAHN
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- #242
- US babies 2025
- 1,418
- Best rank
- #230 (2023)
- Peak year
- 2024
Meaning and origin of Milan
Milan is a Slavic and Italian name that is usually said to mean “gracious, dear; also an Italian city”.
Milan has two separate roots. In Czech, Slovak, Serbian and other Slavic languages it is a traditional masculine name built on the element mil, meaning gracious or dear. In English it also calls to mind the Italian city of Milano, whose name goes back to the Latin Mediolanum, a center of fashion and design. The Czech writer Milan Kundera is a well-known bearer. In the United States Milan is used for both boys and girls, and it has a stylish, cosmopolitan feel. Pronunciations vary, with mih-LAHN common in the US and MEE-lahn in Central Europe.
Popularity over time
Milan first appears in US Social Security records in 1885. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 53 different years, starting in 1885. Its best national rank was #230 in 2023, and the most babies received it in 2024, when 1,554 were named Milan. In 2025, 1,418 babies were named Milan, and it ranked #242 nationally. That is 96% more than ten years earlier, so it is clearly on the rise.
Its national rank moved from #690 in 1920, #890 in 1950, #1,369 in 1980, #1,183 in 2000, #1,238 in 2010, and #242 in 2025. Of the 18,608 US boys named Milan since records began, 38% were born in the 2020s, its biggest decade. The 2010s come next, with 5,073 babies.
Other babies' names that peaked around the same time include Dallas, Tatum, Lennon, Ellis, and Sutton.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Milan ranked highest in Florida, Rhode Island, and New Jersey.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| Florida | #74 | 267 |
| Rhode Island | #170 | 7 |
| New Jersey | #171 | 60 |
| Texas | #206 | 191 |
| Colorado | #207 | 32 |
Gender, sound and spelling
Milan is used for both boys and girls: over the last 20 years about 38% of US babies named Milan were girls and 62% were boys.
Milan is usually pronounced mih-LAHN, with two syllables. It has five letters, starts with M and ends in “-an”.
Middle names for Milan
A few middle names that flow with Milan: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Milan
Similar names
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Lists that include Milan
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Milan mean?
Milan is a Slavic and Italian name that is usually said to mean “gracious, dear; also an Italian city”.
What is the origin of the name Milan?
Milan has Slavic and Italian roots. Milan has two separate roots.
Is Milan a popular name?
Yes. Milan ranked #242 in the US in 2025, which makes it in the top 1,000.
Is Milan a boy or girl name?
Milan is used for both boys and girls: over the last 20 years about 38% of US babies named Milan were girls and 62% were boys.
How do you pronounce Milan?
Milan is usually pronounced mih-LAHN. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings