Rising since 1986, #242 for boys today.
Popularity of Milan since 1885
Babies named Milan per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls | Boys |
|---|---|---|
| 1880s | 0 | 6 |
| 1890s | 0 | 5 |
| 1900s | 0 | 24 |
| 1910s | 0 | 479 |
| 1920s | 0 | 881 |
| 1930s | 0 | 617 |
| 1940s | 0 | 529 |
| 1950s | 0 | 537 |
| 1960s | 8 | 432 |
| 1970s | 12 | 451 |
| 1980s | 153 | 439 |
| 1990s | 727 | 831 |
| 2000s | 1,942 | 1,248 |
| 2010s | 4,136 | 5,073 |
| 2020s | 2,579 | 7,056 |
Meaning & origin
Milan has seen a remarkable rise in popularity in the United States, climbing steadily since 1986. As of 2025, it ranks #242 nationwide, with a 1 in 1,205 occurrence, indicating a strong and growing appeal. The name reached its peak rank in 2024, reflecting its increasing usage in the 2020s. Its top states include Florida, Rhode Island, and New Jersey, suggesting a diverse geographical appeal. This unisex name, often associated with Slavic roots or the Italian city, has become a modern favorite, balancing a sophisticated sound with a simple spelling.
Milan may derive from the Slavic element 'milu' meaning 'gracious, dear', making it a cognate of names like Milos. In Italian, it is a surname and also the name of the city of Milan, but as a given name, the Slavic sense is more commonly accepted. In recent decades, Milan has gained popularity across Europe and the United States, often used for both boys and girls.
Where Milan is most popular
Births per 100,000 boys by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Milan” around the world
Where Milan lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
#99
in 2024
Ireland
24
babies in 2025
New Zealand
15
babies in 2025
Quebec
#31
in 2025
Sources: INSEE (France) · CSO Ireland (Ireland) · NZ Dept of Internal Affairs (New Zealand) · Retraite Québec (Quebec).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Mila, Mili, Lani
Variants: Milan
Sibling names for Milan
Names that share Milan's style, for a brother or sister.
Sisters: Sofia, Lena, Maya, Zara, Aria, Alexi, Alina, Bela, Chanel, Havana, Jalaya, Jelena, Milana, Milena, Petra, Zaria, Zora, Laniya, Magda, Malina, Marika, Milania, Mirna, Sicily, Vanda, Ailanny, Anina, Anouk, Armanii, Chianti, Dallana, Helina, Iana, Jailani, Lexani, Maloni, Manya, Milka, Mirka, Navaya, Nylani, Rada, Rmani, Suzana, Tamila, Vlasta, Zanyah, Zelena, Asja, Ayanni, Cianni, Dailani, Dailany, Genoa, Indiah, Lanayah, Maaliyah, Marixa, Mayana, Maylani, Milarose, Namya, Roniya, Rumani, Vesna, Zaylani, Danira, Keymoni, Monai, Vielka, Ailanys, Aleska, Ardra, Calena, Daliza, Gelena, Ilka, Italee, Jamora, Jaria, Jayloni, Kasmira, Leyani, Malanni, Malay, Malyna, Milika, Mirely, Natiya, Nikira, Ninoska, Ranika, Rewa, Rodina, Sanda, Sanja, Tamani, Tanairy, Tokyo, Yaritsa, Zlaty, Zyaira
Brothers: Luka, Mateo, Liam, Noah, Ethan, Armani, Jan, Jovan, Juelz, Anias, Cuba, Javonni, Kamen, Lazar, Markee, Miran, Miron, Osmin, Quartez, Yoan, Armany, Artur, Athens, Bogdan, Deniro, Dvante, Javani, Lazlo, Luby, Zamier, Zorian, Kazmir, Armanni, Boyan, Dejan, Dekhari, Demarquez, Dragan, Drago, Dymir, Goran, Ilyan, Jadakiss, Javanni, Javonnie, Lumir, Maan, Milen, Mir, Morocco, Romin, Yordan, Yovan, Zhyaire, Zurich
Names like Milan
Names whose popularity has moved with Milan's over the last 50 years.
