Find out how popular the first name Miles has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Miles by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Miles is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 100% of people named Miles being male.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 6,558 male babies and 22 female babies born with the name Miles.

Yes—according to the SSA data, 22 baby girls were named Miles in 2023, despite it being a predominantly male name. We'd love to know why!

The history of the first name Miles

The name Miles has its origins in the Latin language and dates back to ancient Roman times. It is derived from the Latin word "miles" which means "soldier" or "warrior". This name was likely given to baby boys in Roman families with military connections or traditions.

In medieval times, the name Miles was relatively common among the English nobility and upper classes. It was sometimes spelled Myles or Myles in old records from this period. The name gained popularity after the Norman Conquest of England in 1066, as Norman-French names became fashionable among the ruling classes.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Miles is from the 12th century. Miles of Gloucester was a renowned English soldier and landowner who lived from around 1115 to 1143. He fought in the civil war between King Stephen and the Empress Matilda.

Another significant figure was Miles Coverdale, an English Bible translator who lived from 1488 to 1569. He was the first to publish a complete printed translation of the Bible into English in 1535.

In the 16th century, Sir Miles Hobart was an English politician and member of parliament. He lived from around 1538 to 1598 and served under Queen Elizabeth I.

During the 17th century, Miles Syndercombe was an English theologian and academic who lived from 1584 to 1628. He served as a fellow and lecturer at Queen's College, Oxford.

A more recent notable bearer of the name was Miles Davis, the legendary American jazz trumpeter and bandleader. He was born in 1926 and passed away in 1991, leaving an indelible mark on the world of modern jazz music.

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 Miles was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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