Mills Unisex
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: Mills /mɪlz/
Origin: English; Scottish
Meaning: English: from the mill; Scottish: son of the miller
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Mills has its roots in the Old English term "mylen," which means "mill." This term is derived from the Proto-Germanic *meldō, which also relates to the act of grinding or milling grain. The transition into English occurred as the language evolved from Old English to Middle English, with the term becoming more common in the context of surnames during the medieval period, particularly as surnames began to be adopted in the 12th century.
The name Mills likely originated as a topographical surname for someone who lived near a mill or worked in one, reflecting the importance of milling in agrarian societies. Historically, the name Mills can be traced back to various notable figures and families in England.
One significant milestone is the appearance of the surname in records from the 13th century, where it was often associated with landowners and individuals of some standing in society. The name may have also been borne by individuals involved in the burgeoning textile industry during the Industrial Revolution, which saw a proliferation of mills across England.
The connection to mills as centers of production and community life contributed to the name's significance in English history. Culturally, the name Mills evokes associations with industriousness and the agrarian economy, symbolizing the essential role of milling in food production and trade.
The name has been preserved through various historical documents and genealogical records, reflecting its enduring nature. Additionally, diminutive forms or variations such as Millie may have emerged, although they are less commonly recognized as direct derivatives of the surname.
Overall, the name Mills encapsulates a rich historical narrative tied to the development of English society and its economic foundations.
Famous people named Mills
In this section, you will find notable people named Mills. 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 Mills who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Mills 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.
Mills Lane is a former professional boxing referee best known for officiating the Tyson vs. Holyfield fight and for his role on the television show Celebrity Deathmatch.
Fictional characters named Mills
The following list of fictional characters named Mills is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.
You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.
Mills is a fictional character from the film Se7en. He is a rookie detective who partners with a seasoned investigator to track down a serial killer.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Mills, 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 Mills. 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 Mills was first seen in the United States in 1882.
Mills has ranked as high as #4897 nationally, which occurred in 2025, and has been most popular in South Carolina, Georgia, Texas, North Carolina, and Alabama.
In the past 5 years the name Mills has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Mills 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 Mills was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
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 Mills.
| Year | Total Births | Boy | Girl |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 61 | 46 | 15 |
| 2024 | 58 | 43 | 15 |
| 2023 | 53 | 34 | 19 |
| 2022 | 45 | 24 | 21 |
| 2021 | 42 | 36 | 6 |
| 2020 | 35 | 29 | 6 |
| 2019 | 31 | 23 | 8 |
| 2018 | 41 | 30 | 11 |
| 2017 | 29 | 24 | 5 |
| 2016 | 22 | 22 | 0 |
| 2015 | 24 | 15 | 9 |
| 2014 | 16 | 10 | 6 |
| 2013 | 19 | 14 | 5 |
| 2012 | 20 | 20 | 0 |
| 2011 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 2010 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 2009 | 10 | 10 | 0 |
| 2008 | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| 2007 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 2006 | 10 | 10 | 0 |
| 2005 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 2004 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 2003 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 2002 | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| 2001 | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| 2000 | 14 | 14 | 0 |
| 1999 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 1998 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1997 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 1996 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 1992 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1989 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 1986 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1982 | 11 | 11 | 0 |
| 1969 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1959 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 1958 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1954 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1952 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 1951 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1950 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 1948 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 1947 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1946 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 1945 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 1944 | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| 1943 | 10 | 10 | 0 |
| 1942 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1941 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 1940 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 1938 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 1937 | 14 | 14 | 0 |
| 1936 | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| 1935 | 10 | 10 | 0 |
| 1933 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 1932 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 1931 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1930 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1929 | 14 | 14 | 0 |
| 1928 | 11 | 11 | 0 |
| 1927 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 1926 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1925 | 12 | 12 | 0 |
| 1924 | 12 | 12 | 0 |
| 1923 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 1922 | 14 | 14 | 0 |
| 1921 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1920 | 14 | 14 | 0 |
| 1919 | 10 | 10 | 0 |
| 1918 | 11 | 11 | 0 |
| 1917 | 11 | 11 | 0 |
| 1916 | 13 | 13 | 0 |
| 1915 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 1914 | 11 | 11 | 0 |
| 1913 | 11 | 11 | 0 |
| 1912 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1900 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1896 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1886 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1885 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1882 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
Top States for Mills (2024)
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| NC | 5 | |
| GA | 5 |