What Does the Name Milo Mean? (2024)

• Pregnancy

Are you looking for a strong name that is traditional yet not too common? Consider using the name Milo. This name has several possible meanings, including "beloved" and "merciful," adding to its allure.

The name Milo is derived from multiple sources. In Slavic languages, the root mil- means “dear” or “beloved." The name may well indeed have derived from this root's Latin origins. However, some believe the name is related to the Latin word miles, meaning “soldier" or even the ancient Greek word milos for “yew-flower."

How Popular Is the Name Milo?

In the 20th century, the name Milo remained somewhat under the radar. Between 1966 and 2000, it was not even ranked among the top 1,000 boy names in the US. In more recent years, however, it has started rising in popularity.

In 2015, Milo became one of the top 300 names for boys in America for the first time since at least 1900, and it has kept climbing. In 2022, Milo was the 127th most popular name for boys, moving down from 120 in 2021.

Similar Names

Milo is closely related to the more common name Miles (also spelled Myles). Other variants include Milos, Miloš, and Milosz.

In addition, the root mil- (“dear” or “beloved”) is found in many Slavic names including Milivoj, Milomir, Miloslav, Miłowan, Radmilo, Tihomil, and Vlastimil.

Here are a few other names that start with "M" if it's the initial sound that catches your fancy:

• Malcolm
• Marcus
• Mario
• Marley
• Marshall
• Mason
• Matthew
• Maxwell
• Milton
• Mitchell

Other Greek names include:

• Achilles
• Adonis
• Alexander
• Dorian
• Jason
• Leander
• Nicholas
• Orion
• Orpheus
• Sebastian
  

Suggested Sibling Names

If you already have a child whose name you want to pair with Milo or if you're thinking of adding another child down the line, here are some sibling names that pair well with Milo:

• Arianna
• Brandon
• Chase
• Cole
• Gavin
• Iris
• Melody
• Parker
• Vivian
• Weston
• Zachary

Famous People Named Milo

Many notable people throughout history have had the name Milo or variations of it. Here are some of the most notable:

• Milo M. Acker,American politician who was a member of the New York State Assembly
• Milo Aukerman,American musician, biochemist, and lead singer for the punk rock band the Descendents
• Milo Samuel Baker,American botanist who was a president of the California Botanical Society
• Milo Hamilton,American sportscaster known for his play-by-play commentary on Major League Baseball
• Milo Manheim,American actor known for his role in the Disney Channel original movie Zombies and his appearances on Dancing With the Stars
• Milo Radulovich,US Air Force reserve lieutenant who was suspected of communist sympathies
• Milo Ventimiglia,American actor best known for his role as Jack Pearson in the TV series This Is Us

Fictional Milos

If the real-life Milos aren't inspiration enough, perhaps the following fictional Milos will inspire you:

• Milo, the main character in the 1961 children’s novel The Phantom Tollbooth
• Milo Bloom, a journalist in the comic strip "Bloom County"
• Milo Minderbinder, a savvy businessman in Joseph Heller’s 1961 novel Catch-22 and its sequel, Closing Time
• Milo Murphy, the main character in the Disney TV series Milo Murphy's Law
• Milo Pressman, a computer analyst in the TV series 24
• Milo Rambaldi, a genius and renaissance man in the TV series Alias
• Milo Standish, a scientist in the 1986 novel Brothers by William Goldman