Milan
Say it: MEE-lan
BoyMeans gracious, dear5 letters2 syllables
#198
in Ireland (2025)
#199 with spellings combined
24
babies in 2025
#199
best rank (2025)
216
babies since 2006
Up 95
10-year rank change
Milan through the years
Compare with another name →Show the numbers
| Year | Babies (boys) | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 24 | #199 |
| 2024 | 19 | #229 |
| 2023 | 14 | #294 |
| 2022 | 13 | #320 |
| 2021 | 14 | #300 |
| 2020 | 6 | #472 |
| 2019 | 8 | #421 |
| 2018 | 8 | #411 |
| 2017 | 9 | #394 |
| 2016 | 6 | #491 |
| 2015 | 15 | #294 |
| 2014 | 19 | #259 |
| 2013 | 12 | #338 |
| 2012 | 9 | #401 |
| 2011 | 13 | #326 |
| 2010 | 8 | #422 |
| 2009 | 4 | #604 |
| 2008 | 6 | #472 |
| 2007 | 4 | #527 |
| 2006 | 5 | #423 |
Source: CSO, Irish Babies' Names (VSA50, VSA60), CC BY 4.0.
★ What does Milan mean?
Gracious, dear
Slavic, from the element mil (kind, gracious, dear).
Say it right
MEElan
Many Irish families say mi-LAN, like the Italian city.
The story of Milan
Milan is a Slavic boys’ name. It is built on the element mil, meaning kind, gracious or dear, and began as a short form for longer names starting with Mil-. It is common in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Serbia, Croatia and neighbouring countries, and it has also been popular in the Netherlands and Belgium. In Persian, Milan is a separate name meaning “desire”.
It has nothing to do with the Italian city, whose name comes from the Latin Mediolanum, although the two are spelled alike in English.
In Ireland Milan first appears in the CSO records in 2006. It has risen slowly since, and 2025 was its best year so far, with 24 boys and a CSO rank of number 198. A few girls are also given the name.
Say it differently where you're from, or spotted something wrong? Tell us.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Milan (given name)
- Wiktionary: Milan (English proper noun)
- CSO VSA50, Boys Names in Ireland with 3 or More Occurrences
At a glance
Similar names
Sibling ideas
Spellings counted here
| Spelling | 2025 | All years |
|---|---|---|
| Milan | 24 | 216 |
In Northern Ireland
Not in the 2025 list. Best rank #339 (2024); 11 babies since 2022.
Source: NISRA, Open Government Licence.
Milan is also given to girls: 15 since 2011.