A 1880s favorite, climbing again.
Popularity of Milly since 1884
Babies named Milly per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 2014, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Milly's real moment was 1884.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 15 |
| 1890s | 32 |
| 1900s | 10 |
| 1910s | 114 |
| 1920s | 177 |
| 1930s | 134 |
| 1940s | 116 |
| 1950s | 123 |
| 1960s | 132 |
| 1970s | 79 |
| 1980s | 86 |
| 1990s | 118 |
| 2000s | 514 |
| 2010s | 1,024 |
| 2020s | 673 |
Meaning & origin
Milly is a name with a charming vintage feel, originally a diminutive of Mildred or Millicent. It first appeared in U.S. records in 1884, peaking in that same year, and has been rising in popularity since 1987. As of 2025, it ranked 1,777, with a 1-in-14,224 frequency. The revival of short, traditional nicknames-as-full-names has contributed to its resurgence. Historically, Milly was most common in Oklahoma, Utah, and Michigan, reflecting its use across diverse regions.
Milly originated as a pet form of Mildred (from Old English 'milde' meaning gentle and 'þryð' meaning strength) or Millicent (from Old French 'milissent', derived from Germanic 'amal' meaning work and 'swind' meaning strong). It gained popularity in the 19th century as an independent name and saw a revival in the 1880s, when it first appeared in U.S. records.
Where Milly is most popular
Births per 100,000 girls by state, 2025. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Milly” around the world
Where Milly lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
25
babies in 2024
Sources: INSEE (France).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Mill, Mills, Mila, Em
Sibling names for Milly
Names that share Milly's style, for a brother or sister.
