How to say it
MILES
maɪlz
Masculine
Miles
Soldier, or 'merciful'
What it means
Etymology is contested. Could come from the Latin miles (soldier; English 'military' shares the root) or from the Germanic Milo, possibly meaning 'merciful' or 'gracious.'
The English Miles has been in regular use since medieval times, when both roots competed for the same spelling. Miles Davis (1926 to 1991) gave the name its 20th-century jazz weight. Miles Morales as Spider-Man in the comics and films (especially Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, 2018) put the name in front of a new generation of parents. Currently US top fifty for boys. Variant spelling Myles has its own modern run, and Milo (the Germanic root form) is climbing as a parallel name.
How to spell Miles
The standard spelling is Miles. Common variants include Myles, Milo, Milos, but Miles is the most widely used form.
Popularity over time
peaked at #37 in 2024, currently #44 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
- Spelling
Miles is the dominant US spelling; Myles (Welsh-influenced) is steady in the UK and Ireland. Same pronunciation.
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.
- Miles Davis American trumpeter and bandleader, Kind of Blue
- Miles Morales Spider-Man in Into the Spider-Verse
Spelling variants
- Myles
- Milo
- Milos
Names with the same feeling
See Miles from another angle
By meaning
Common questions
- What does the name Miles mean?
- Etymology is contested. Could come from the Latin miles (soldier; English 'military' shares the root) or from the Germanic Milo, possibly meaning 'merciful' or 'gracious.'
- What does Miles mean in Latin?
- In Latin, Miles means "Soldier, or 'merciful'." The English Miles has been in regular use since medieval times, when both roots competed for the same spelling. Miles Davis (1926 to 1991) gave the name its 20th-century jazz weight. Miles Morales as Spider-Man in the comics and films (especially Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, 2018) put the name in front of a new generation of parents. Currently US top fifty for boys. Variant spelling Myles has its own modern run, and Milo (the Germanic root form) is climbing as a parallel name.
- How do you pronounce Miles?
- Miles is pronounced maɪlz. Say it as MILES, with the stress on the "miles" syllable.
- How do you spell Miles?
- The standard spelling is Miles. Common spelling variants include Myles, Milo, Milos.
- Is Miles a boy or girl name?
- Miles is traditionally a masculine name.
- How popular is the name Miles?
- Miles ranked #44 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.