How to say it
MI · lo
/ˈmaɪ.loʊ/
Masculine
Milo
Merciful, or 'gracious'
What it means
Probably from a Germanic root, possibly meaning 'merciful' or 'gracious' (related to mild). Also a Slavic name from the same root family. Milo of Croton was a 6th-century-BC Greek wrestler whose feats became legendary.
Milo's etymology is contested. The most likely root is a Germanic one related to mild ('gracious, merciful'); a Slavic cognate exists in names like Miloš and Milena (from the root mil, 'dear, gracious'). The ancient Greek Milo of Croton was a 6th-century-BC wrestler said to be undefeated through five Olympic games; he was said to have carried a four-year-old bull on his shoulders. The English Milo has been climbing fast since 2010 — Atlantis: The Lost Empire (Disney, 2001) and Pretty Little Liars's Milo Ventimiglia (the actor) gave the name modern visibility. It entered the US top 100 in 2020. Single short forms aren't common.
Popularity over time
peaked at #119 in 2025, currently #119 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–present. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Pop culture
Atlantis: The Lost Empire (Disney 2001) and the actor Milo Ventimiglia are the strongest English-language anchors.
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.
- Milo of Croton 6th-century-BC Greek wrestler and Olympic champion, the bull-carrying legend
- Milo Ventimiglia American actor, This Is Us and Gilmore Girls
Spelling variants
- Milos
- Miles