Milan Unisex
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: mee-LAN /miˈlæn/
Origin: Slavic; Italian
Meaning: Slavic: 'gracious' or 'dear'; Italian: 'from Milan'
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Milan has its roots in Slavic languages, deriving from the Old Slavic element "mil" meaning "gracious" or "dear." This etymology suggests a sense of affection or kindness, which has contributed to its appeal across various cultures. The name was adopted into various forms in different languages, including the Italian city name Milan, which is derived from the Latin "Mediolanum," meaning "in the middle of the plain." The transition into English occurred through the influence of Italian and Slavic cultures, particularly during the Renaissance when interest in classical and regional names flourished.
Historically, Milan has been associated with several notable figures and events. In the medieval period, Milan was a significant city-state in Italy, known for its political and cultural influence.
The name gained prominence through figures such as Saint Milan, a 4th-century bishop of the city, who is venerated in both the Catholic and Orthodox traditions. His legacy contributed to the name's religious significance, particularly in Christian contexts.
Additionally, the name appears in various historical texts and documents, reflecting its usage in different regions and eras. Culturally, Milan embodies themes of grace and nobility, resonating with the qualities attributed to its Slavic roots.
The name has been embraced in various forms across Europe, often associated with strength and leadership, likely due to its historical connections to influential cities and figures. The diminutive form "Milo" has also emerged in some cultures, further enriching the name's legacy.
Overall, Milan's historical and cultural significance has allowed it to endure through centuries, reflecting a blend of linguistic heritage and societal values.
Famous people named Milan
In this section, you will find notable people named Milan. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Milan who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Milan who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.
Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.
Milan Kundera is a novelist best known for The Unbearable Lightness of Being, The Book of Laughter and Forgetting, and The Joke.
Milan Jovanović is a professional footballer best known for playing as a forward for various clubs in Europe.
Milan Baroš is a former professional footballer best known for his time with the Czech national team and clubs like Lyon and Aston Villa.
Milan Gajić is a professional footballer best known for playing as a defender for clubs in Serbia and France.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Milan, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.
Similar names
Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Milan. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Milan was first seen in the United States in 1885.
Milan has ranked as high as #392 nationally, which occurred in 2024, and has been most popular in California, Florida, Texas, New York, and Illinois.
In the past 5 years the name Milan has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Milan is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Milan was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Milan (2024)
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. In some cases, you may see four or five states listed. However, we only display states where the name represents a significant percentage of births, so the number of states shown can range from one to several.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| FL | 274 | |
| CA | 199 | |
| TX | 199 | |
| NY | 111 | |
| IL | 63 | |
| GA | 59 | |
| NC | 36 | |
| MD | 33 | |
| AZ | 30 | |
| TN | 30 | |
| WA | 30 | |
| PA | 29 | |
| VA | 29 | |
| MI | 26 | |
| IN | 25 |
Popularity Over Time (National) — Table
We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Milan.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 1,552 |
| 2023 | 1,521 |
| 2022 | 1,037 |
| 2021 | 830 |
| 2020 | 690 |
| 2019 | 663 |
| 2018 | 662 |
| 2017 | 651 |
| 2016 | 687 |
| 2015 | 724 |
| 2014 | 753 |
| 2013 | 486 |
| 2012 | 153 |
| 2011 | 149 |
| 2010 | 143 |
| 2009 | 153 |
| 2008 | 163 |
| 2007 | 143 |
| 2006 | 118 |
| 2005 | 118 |
| 2004 | 122 |
| 2003 | 109 |
| 2002 | 98 |
| 2001 | 108 |
| 2000 | 116 |
| 1999 | 87 |
| 1998 | 118 |
| 1997 | 119 |
| 1996 | 91 |
| 1995 | 77 |
| 1994 | 82 |
| 1993 | 69 |
| 1992 | 61 |
| 1991 | 58 |
| 1990 | 69 |
| 1989 | 67 |
| 1988 | 51 |
| 1987 | 31 |
| 1986 | 46 |
| 1985 | 44 |
| 1984 | 32 |
| 1983 | 42 |
| 1982 | 43 |
| 1981 | 35 |
| 1980 | 48 |
| 1979 | 66 |
| 1978 | 61 |
| 1977 | 38 |
| 1976 | 36 |
| 1975 | 39 |
| 1974 | 46 |
| 1973 | 32 |
| 1972 | 54 |
| 1971 | 39 |
| 1970 | 40 |
| 1969 | 54 |
| 1968 | 36 |
| 1967 | 45 |
| 1966 | 37 |
| 1965 | 48 |
| 1964 | 48 |
| 1963 | 41 |
| 1962 | 34 |
| 1961 | 43 |
| 1960 | 46 |
| 1959 | 47 |
| 1958 | 60 |
| 1957 | 44 |
| 1956 | 56 |
| 1955 | 59 |
| 1954 | 52 |
| 1953 | 52 |
| 1952 | 56 |
| 1951 | 51 |
| 1950 | 60 |
| 1949 | 54 |
| 1948 | 56 |
| 1947 | 51 |
| 1946 | 44 |
| 1945 | 52 |
| 1944 | 39 |
| 1943 | 53 |
| 1942 | 71 |
| 1941 | 58 |
| 1940 | 51 |
| 1939 | 52 |
| 1938 | 61 |
| 1937 | 63 |
| 1936 | 72 |
| 1935 | 41 |
| 1934 | 55 |
| 1933 | 64 |
| 1932 | 63 |
| 1931 | 74 |
| 1930 | 72 |
| 1929 | 77 |
| 1928 | 84 |
| 1927 | 80 |
| 1926 | 107 |
| 1925 | 79 |
| 1924 | 82 |
| 1923 | 99 |
| 1922 | 90 |
| 1921 | 96 |
| 1920 | 87 |
| 1919 | 75 |
| 1918 | 77 |
| 1917 | 66 |
| 1916 | 79 |
| 1915 | 66 |
| 1914 | 33 |
| 1913 | 34 |
| 1912 | 30 |
| 1911 | 10 |
| 1910 | 9 |
| 1909 | 5 |
| 1908 | 7 |
| 1907 | 7 |
| 1906 | 5 |
| 1892 | 5 |
| 1885 | 6 |