How to say it
MIL · lie
ˈmɪl.i
Feminine
Millie
Strong worker, or short for Mildred / Millicent
What it means
A diminutive of multiple longer names: Mildred ('gentle strength' in Old English), Millicent ('strong worker' in Germanic), Amelia ('industrious'), Camilla. Now usually a given name in its own right.
Millie historically served as a short for several longer names: Mildred (Old English Mildþryth, 'gentle strength'), Millicent (Germanic Amalswinth, 'strong worker'), Amelia (Germanic Amal, 'industrious'), and Camilla. The diminutive crossed to standalone-name status in the 21st century, particularly in the UK, where Millie consistently ranks higher than in the US. Millie Bobby Brown (Stranger Things, born 2004) gave the name its decisive modern English-language anchor. It's been in the US top 300 since 2018.
How to spell Millie
The standard spelling is Millie. Common variants include Milly, Mildred, Millicent, but Millie is the most widely used form.
Popularity over time
peaked at #73 in 2025, currently #73 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
- Pop culture
Millie Bobby Brown (Stranger Things) is the dominant English-language anchor for parents naming today; the older reference is the Disney St. Bernard Millie.
- Nickname
Originally a short for Mildred, Millicent, Amelia, or Camilla; today usually a standalone given name.
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.
- Millie Bobby Brown British actress, Eleven in Stranger Things, born 2004
Spelling variants
- Milly
- Mildred
- Millicent
Names with the same feeling
See Millie from another angle
By meaning
By style
Common questions
- What does the name Millie mean?
- A diminutive of multiple longer names: Mildred ('gentle strength' in Old English), Millicent ('strong worker' in Germanic), Amelia ('industrious'), Camilla. Now usually a given name in its own right.
- What does Millie mean in Germanic?
- In Germanic, Millie means "Strong worker, or short for Mildred / Millicent." Millie historically served as a short for several longer names: Mildred (Old English Mildþryth, 'gentle strength'), Millicent (Germanic Amalswinth, 'strong worker'), Amelia (Germanic Amal, 'industrious'), and Camilla. The diminutive crossed to standalone-name status in the 21st century, particularly in the UK, where Millie consistently ranks higher than in the US. Millie Bobby Brown (Stranger Things, born 2004) gave the name its decisive modern English-language anchor. It's been in the US top 300 since 2018.
- Is Millie short for Mildred?
- Yes. Millie is a short form of Mildred, and it carries the same meaning, "Strong worker, or short for Mildred / Millicent." These days many parents use Millie as a given name in its own right, not only as a nickname.
- How do you pronounce Millie?
- Millie is pronounced ˈmɪl.i. Say it as MIL-lie, with the stress on the "mil" syllable.
- How do you spell Millie?
- The standard spelling is Millie. Common spelling variants include Milly, Mildred, Millicent.
- Is Millie a boy or girl name?
- Millie is traditionally a feminine name.
- How popular is the name Millie?
- Millie ranked #73 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.