Mila

What does Mila mean?

Mila means “The gracious, dear one” and is Slavic in origin and widespread across eastern and south-eastern Europe. Name meanings are rarely definitive; where several readings circulate we list the most common first. Treat them as origin stories rather than definitions.

Mila is given as a girls' name and as a gender-neutral name. The readings differ slightly; both are attested.

Sound, length and pronunciation

It is pronounced MI-la. Ending on a vowel gives it a soft, open finish — names like this pair especially well with short, hard surnames.

With 4 letters and 2 syllables, Mila is decidedly short. Short names have a practical advantage: you can call them across a playground without losing the second half, and they need no nickname because they already are one.

How popular is the name?

Mila is currently in the top 10 most popular first names in German-speaking countries: familiar, unproblematic at the registry office — and quite possibly not the only one at nursery.

Variants and spellings of Mila

Mila shares a root or meaning with one other name. Some are pure spelling variants, others independent names from the same root.

Does Mila suit your surname?

Check Mila against your surname for three things: the rhythm when spoken, the initials (Anna Sophie Schmidt becomes A.S.S.) and the nickname nursery will inevitably produce.

Sibling names that go with it

Parents who go on to have a second child often want names that work together. Mila pairs well with Milan, Boris, Bogdan, Goran, Luka.

Registry offices in Germany, Austria and Switzerland

In Germany the registry office decides whether a first name may be entered. It must be recognisable as a first name and must not harm the child's wellbeing. Austria applies comparable criteria, and in Switzerland the civil registry decides. Mila is an established name and entirely unproblematic in all three countries.