How to say it
MEE · luh
ˈmi.lə
Feminine
Mila
Gracious, dear
What it means
A Slavic name with the root mil-, meaning gracious, dear, or beloved. Often the short form of longer Slavic names like Ludmila, Milena, or Miloslava.
Mila lived primarily within Slavic naming traditions for centuries (Russian, Ukrainian, Polish, Czech). The actress Mila Kunis, born in Ukraine and raised in the US, helped bring the name to mainstream American attention starting in the 2010s. In Latino communities Mila also serves as the everyday short form of Camila, and the two paths converged on a single popular spelling. Currently US top thirty for girls and climbing. Stands easily on its own without needing a longer formal version.
How to spell Mila
The standard spelling is Mila. Common variants include Milah, Mylah, but Mila is the most widely used form.
Popularity over time
peaked at #14 in 2018, currently #43 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–2025. Reviewed July 2026. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Pronunciation
MEE-lah, not MY-lah. Slavic in origin; Mila Kunis is the reference most parents anchor on.
Who's worn it
Historical figures, characters, and public faces who share the name. The cultural surface, for whatever weight you want to give it.
- Mila Kunis Actress, Black Swan and That '70s Show
Spelling variants
- Milah
- Mylah
Names with the same feeling
See Mila from another angle
By meaning
By style
Common questions
- What does the name Mila mean?
- A Slavic name with the root mil-, meaning gracious, dear, or beloved. Often the short form of longer Slavic names like Ludmila, Milena, or Miloslava.
- What does Mila mean in Slavic?
- In Slavic, Mila means "Gracious, dear." Mila lived primarily within Slavic naming traditions for centuries (Russian, Ukrainian, Polish, Czech). The actress Mila Kunis, born in Ukraine and raised in the US, helped bring the name to mainstream American attention starting in the 2010s. In Latino communities Mila also serves as the everyday short form of Camila, and the two paths converged on a single popular spelling. Currently US top thirty for girls and climbing. Stands easily on its own without needing a longer formal version.
- Is Mila short for Camila?
- Yes. Mila is a short form of Camila, and it carries the same meaning, "Gracious, dear." These days many parents use Mila as a given name in its own right, not only as a nickname.
- How do you pronounce Mila?
- Mila is pronounced ˈmi.lə. Say it as MEE-luh, with the stress on the "mee" syllable.
- How do you spell Mila?
- The standard spelling is Mila. Common spelling variants include Milah, Mylah.
- Is Mila a boy or girl name?
- Mila is traditionally a feminine name.
- How popular is the name Mila?
- Mila ranked #43 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.