Find out how popular the first name Milly has been for the last 49 years (from 1975 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Milly by gender

Based on the last 49 years of data, Milly is exclusively a female name.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 110 female babies and 0 male babies born with the name Milly.

The history of the first name Milly

The name Milly has its origins in the medieval English pet name or diminutive form of the female given names Millicent and Amelia. It emerged in England during the Middle Ages, likely around the 12th century.

Milly is derived from the Old German name Amalrich, which consists of the elements "amal" meaning "work" and "ric" meaning "power" or "ruler". Over time, Amalrich evolved into the Old French name Amelie and the Latin name Amelia, which later gave rise to the diminutive Milly.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Milly can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of landholdings and inhabitants in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name appears as a variation of Millicent, which was a common English name during the Middle Ages.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Milly. One of the earliest was Milly Candler (1878-1953), an American philanthropist and the wife of Coca-Cola founder Asa Griggs Candler. Another prominent figure was Milly Barranger (1917-2008), an American theatre producer and director who was instrumental in the development of off-off-Broadway theatre in New York City.

In the field of literature, Milly Theale was a character in the novel "The Wings of the Dove" by Henry James, published in 1902. This fictional character, a young American heiress, played a central role in the novel's exploration of themes such as morality, love, and the complexities of human relationships.

In the world of sports, Milly Silcock (1908-1990) was a notable English cricketer who played for the England women's cricket team in the 1930s and 1940s. She was one of the first professional female cricketers and played a significant role in the development of women's cricket.

Another noteworthy individual with the name Milly was Milly Dowler (1988-2002), a British teenager whose tragic murder in 2002 sparked widespread public outrage and led to significant changes in the UK's legal system and media practices.

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

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

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