"gracious, dear, beloved (Slavic root 'mil')"
Milla
Does Milla flow with your last name?
A graceful Slavic gem—short, sweet, and internationally beloved
Reviewed by the NamingEverything Editorial Team · Updated
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Nicknames
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Meaning & Origin
"rival, emulator (via Camilla/Aemilia)"
"hardworking, industrious (via Millicent)"
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Browse nicknames →The Story of Milla
Milla functions beautifully as a standalone name with multiple origins. In Slavic languages, Milla is a short form of names like Ludmila (people's grace), Camilla, or Miroslava. In Latin-rooted languages, it connects to Camilla, the legendary Volscian warrior queen in Virgil's Aeneid who was so fleet-footed she could run across water without breaking the surface. In Hebrew tradition, 'Milla' has been used as a short form of Millicent (hardworking). The distinctive double 'l' spelling—versus the single-l Mila—gives it a Nordic and Eastern European character.
Milla gained considerable global recognition through actress Milla Jovovich, the Ukrainian-American model and actress who starred in 'The Fifth Element' (1997) and the 'Resident Evil' franchise. The single-syllable version Mila surged to top-10 status in the 2010s largely thanks to actress Mila Kunis, and Milla has followed closely.
In Slavic cultures, names beginning with 'Mil-' (from the root meaning 'gracious, dear, beloved') form a large family of related names. Milla thus connects to a rich Slavic naming heritage while also functioning perfectly as a contemporary international name—short, melodic, and easily pronounced in virtually every language.
Historical Record
Milla first appeared in US Social Security records in 1951.
Over 2,025 babies have been named Milla in the United States since SSA records began.
Today, Milla is past its peak , currently ranked #4,199 for girl names in the US .
Fun Facts
- Milla Jovovich was born in Kyiv, Ukraine, and became one of Hollywood's highest-paid actresses
- Milla is consistently a top-20 name in Sweden and Finland
- The Slavic root 'mil' (dear, beloved) is found in over 100 different Slavic names
Milla in Other Languages
Popularity Over Time
Year-by-year popularity data will be available soon.
Famous People Named Milla
Milla Jovovich
Actor
1975
Ukrainian-American actress, model, and musician, known for 'The Fifth Element' (1997) and the 'Resident Evil' franchise
Milla Bäckman
Musician
Swedish pop musician known for her work in Scandinavian music
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Quick Facts
- Gender
- Girl
- Syllables
- 2
- Popularity Rank
- #4,199
- Total SSA Count
- 34
- Cultural Origins
- Slavic Scandinavian Russian Serbian Croatian German English
- Pronunciation
- Easy
- Formality
- Moderate
- Cross-Cultural Ease
- High
Alternative Spellings
Common Nicknames
Middle Name Ideas
Suggested pairings based on syllable flow and style
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Timeless choice, English heritage match, extended 2-3 combo
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Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
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Timeless choice, smooth 2-1 syllable flow
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Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
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Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
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Timeless choice, English heritage match, extended 2-3 combo
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Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
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Timeless choice, English heritage match, extended 2-3 combo
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Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
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Timeless choice, German heritage match, extended 2-3 combo
Middle Names
Middle Names for Milla
7 name pairings with syllable flow tips
Sibling Names
Sibling Match
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Same Origin Names (Slavic)
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Hebrew origin
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English origin
"dreamy, ethereal"
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Old French origin
"stoneworker, mason"
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Italian origin
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Irish surname origin
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Greek via Latin and German origin
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Frequently Asked Questions About Milla
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About the Name Milla
Milla is a girl name with Slavic, Scandinavian, Russian, Serbian, Croatian, German, and English origins . The name means "gracious, dear, beloved (Slavic root 'mil')" in Slavic .
Milla is currently ranked #4,199 in popularity for girl names in the United States.
The name Milla has 2 syllables, making it easy to pronounce and remember.
Common nicknames for Milla include Mil. These shorter forms provide casual alternatives while keeping the elegance of the full name.
Alternative spellings of Milla include Millie, Miller, Millicent, Milly, Milliana . Each spelling variation gives the name a slightly different character while preserving its sound and meaning.
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Sources
- U.S. Social Security Administration — National Baby Names Data (popularity rankings and historical trends)
- Behind the Name (etymology and meaning research)
- NamingEverything editorial research and analysis