How to say it
mi · LAN
mɪˈlɑn
Unisex
Milan
Gracious, dear
What it means
Slavic name from milu ('gracious, dear, beloved'). Distinct from the Italian city Milan (from Latin Mediolanum), though English-speaking parents often associate the two. Shakira and Gerard Piqué named their son Milan (born 2013).
Milan as a given name comes from the Slavic root milu, meaning 'gracious, dear, or beloved.' It has been a top-tier boy's name across the former Yugoslavia, Czech Republic, and Slovakia for centuries. The Italian city of Milan (Milano, from the Latin Mediolanum, 'middle of the plain') is a separate word, though English-speaking parents often associate the two. Milan Kundera (1929-2023), the Czech-born novelist of The Unbearable Lightness of Being, is the deepest 20th-century cultural anchor. Shakira and Gerard Piqué named their son Milan (born January 2013), which is the contemporary celebrity-baby anchor that pushed it into wider US use. It entered the US top 500 in 2014 and is climbing. Single short forms aren't common.
How to spell Milan
The standard spelling is Milan. Common variants include Millan, Milen, but Milan is the most widely used form.
Popularity over time
Feminine: peaked at #596 in 2013, currently #753 in 2025.
Masculine: peaked at #230 in 2023, currently #242 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
mi-LAHN (stress on the second syllable in the Slavic name; the Italian city has the same shape).
- Pop culture
Shakira and Gerard Piqué's son Milan (born 2013) is the modern celebrity anchor; Milan Kundera is the deeper literary one.
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.
- Milan Kundera Czech-French novelist, The Unbearable Lightness of Being, 1929-2023
- Milan Piqué Mebarak Son of Shakira and Gerard Piqué, born 2013
Spelling variants
- Millan
- Milen
Names with the same feeling
See Milan from another angle
By meaning
By style
Common questions
- What does the name Milan mean?
- Slavic name from milu ('gracious, dear, beloved'). Distinct from the Italian city Milan (from Latin Mediolanum), though English-speaking parents often associate the two. Shakira and Gerard Piqué named their son Milan (born 2013).
- What does Milan mean in Slavic?
- In Slavic, Milan means "Gracious, dear." Milan as a given name comes from the Slavic root milu, meaning 'gracious, dear, or beloved.' It has been a top-tier boy's name across the former Yugoslavia, Czech Republic, and Slovakia for centuries. The Italian city of Milan (Milano, from the Latin Mediolanum, 'middle of the plain') is a separate word, though English-speaking parents often associate the two. Milan Kundera (1929-2023), the Czech-born novelist of The Unbearable Lightness of Being, is the deepest 20th-century cultural anchor. Shakira and Gerard Piqué named their son Milan (born January 2013), which is the contemporary celebrity-baby anchor that pushed it into wider US use. It entered the US top 500 in 2014 and is climbing. Single short forms aren't common.
- How do you pronounce Milan?
- Milan is pronounced mɪˈlɑn. Say it as mi-LAN, with the stress on the "lan" syllable.
- How do you spell Milan?
- The standard spelling is Milan. Common spelling variants include Millan, Milen.
- Is Milan a boy or girl name?
- Milan is used for both boys and girls.
- How popular is the name Milan?
- Milan ranked #753 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.