Milady first name popularity, history and meaning

Find out how popular the first name Milady has been for the last 26 years (from 1992 to 2017) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Meaning of Milady

An old-fashioned term of courteous address to a woman or lady.

Popularity of Milady by gender

Based on the last 26 years of data, Milady is exclusively a female name.

For the most recent data in 2017, there were 12 female babies and 0 male babies born with the name Milady.

Year Male Count Female Count
2017 0 12
2013 0 9
2012 0 13
2011 0 11
2010 0 8
2008 0 6
2006 0 7
2005 0 11
2003 0 5
2001 0 7
2000 0 6
1993 0 5
1992 0 5

The history of the first name Milady

The name Milady is an English term of address derived from the French "ma dame" or "my lady". It first emerged during the Middle Ages as a respectful way to refer to a woman of high social standing or nobility. The term was particularly popular in the courts of medieval England and France, where it was used to address noblewomen, wives of knights, and other ladies of rank.

In its earliest usage, Milady was not a given name but rather a title of respect. However, over time, it evolved into a proper name, likely as a result of its widespread use in literature and plays. One of the earliest recorded examples of Milady as a given name can be found in the works of William Shakespeare, where it appears in plays such as "The Merry Wives of Windsor" and "King Henry VI, Part 1".

One notable historical figure who bore the name Milady was Milady de Winter, a fictional character from Alexandre Dumas's novel "The Three Musketeers" published in 1844. Milady de Winter, whose real name was Anne de Breuil, was a skilled spy and assassin who played a pivotal role in the novel's plot.

Another famous bearer of the name was Milady Vere Egerton, Countess of Wilton (1888-1971), a British aristocrat and socialite. She was known for her beauty, her involvement in various charitable causes, and her marriage to the 4th Earl of Wilton.

In the realm of literature, Milady also appears as a character in the novel "The Man in the Iron Mask" by Alexandre Dumas, which was a sequel to "The Three Musketeers". This Milady was a different character from the one in the original novel, but her name further solidified the association of the name with strong, influential women.

Another notable Milady was Milady Delmar (1885-1981), an American stage actress and vaudeville performer who appeared in numerous Broadway productions in the early 20th century. She was particularly known for her roles in comedies and light operas.

While Milady has not been a commonly used given name throughout history, its appearances in literature and its association with powerful and influential women have contributed to its enduring legacy as a unique and intriguing name.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Milady was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Milady, please contact us.

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!

"Milady first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on May 3, 2025. http://namecensus.com/first-names/milady-meaning-and-history/.

"Milady first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/first-names/milady-meaning-and-history/. Accessed 3 May, 2025

Milady first name popularity, history and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/first-names/milady-meaning-and-history/.

Search for a name

Search for a first or last name to learn more about its origin, meaning, and more.

Simple as that.