Milus
A variant of the Latin name Miles, meaning "soldier" or "merciful".
Name Census estimates that about 10 living Americans carry the first name Milus. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Milus today is around 87 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Milus births was 1944 (7 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Milus. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • The typical person named Milus is about 87 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Milus' were born before 1949.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Milus. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
10
~ 1 in 34,275,434 Americans
Peak year
1944
7 babies that year
Average age
87
years old
1950 SSA rank
#4,029
Tracked since 1917
Popularity
Milus: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Milus from the 1910s through to the 1950s, spanning 5 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1920s, with 37 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1920s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Milus by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Milus during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Milus
The name Milus has its origins in ancient Rome, dating back to the classical era. It is derived from the Latin word "miles," which means "soldier" or "warrior." This name likely emerged during the height of the Roman Empire when military service and valor were highly esteemed.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Milus can be found in the writings of the Roman historian Suetonius. He mentions a man named Milus Caesonius, who lived during the 1st century AD and served as a military officer under the Emperor Nero. This early reference suggests that the name was in use among the Roman aristocracy and military elite.
During the Middle Ages, the name Milus remained relatively obscure, but it did appear sporadically in historical records. In the 12th century, a scholar and theologian named Milus Crispinus was known for his works on biblical exegesis and his contributions to the intellectual discourse of the time.
As the Renaissance period dawned, the name Milus experienced a resurgence in popularity, particularly in Italy and other parts of Europe. One notable figure from this era was Milus Mattei, an Italian architect and engineer who lived in the 16th century. He was responsible for the design and construction of several notable buildings and fortifications in Rome and the surrounding regions.
In the 18th century, Milus Baranovsky, a Russian composer and violinist, gained recognition for his contributions to the development of classical music. His compositions, which were heavily influenced by the baroque style, were highly regarded during his lifetime and continue to be studied and performed by musicians today.
Another prominent figure bearing the name Milus was Milus Polonius, a Polish military commander who lived in the 19th century. He played a significant role in the November Uprising, a major Polish rebellion against the Russian Empire, and his leadership and bravery earned him a place in the annals of Polish history.
While the name Milus has fallen out of widespread use in modern times, it remains a part of historical records and cultural heritage. Its connection to the Roman military tradition and its appearance in various eras and regions around the world make it a unique and intriguing name with a rich historical tapestry.
People
Milus + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Milus as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with M
Other first names starting with M with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Milus: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Milus?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 10 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Milus going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 34,275,434 US residents.
Is Milus a common name?
We classify Milus as "Very Rare". It ranks above 28.5% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 72 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Milus most popular?
The single biggest year for Milus was 1944, when 7 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Milus is about 87 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Milus a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Milus in the SSA data are male. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.