Myles is a masculine given name of English origin, derived from the Latin name Milon, which itself is rooted in the Greek word "milos" meaning "soldier." The name likely emerged in the Middle Ages, as a variant of the more common English name Miles.

The earliest recorded use of the name Myles dates back to the 13th century, appearing in various historical documents and records from England. It was particularly popular among the English nobility and gentry during the medieval period.

One of the earliest known bearers of the name Myles was Sir Myles de Stapleton, a prominent English knight who lived in the late 13th century and served under King Edward I. Another notable figure from this era was Myles Coverdale, an English biblical translator and Puritan preacher who produced the first complete printed translation of the Bible into English in the 16th century (1488-1569).

During the Renaissance and Early Modern period, the name Myles gained further prominence. Sir Myles Partridge (1577-1662) was an English courtier and Member of Parliament who served under King Charles I. Myles Syndercombe (1629-1678) was an English politician and supporter of the Parliamentarian cause during the English Civil War.

In the 18th and 19th centuries, the name continued to be used, though with less frequency. Myles Byrne (1780-1862) was an Irish soldier and memoirist who served in the Irish Rebellion of 1798 and later joined the French Imperial Army under Napoleon. Myles Keogh (1840-1876) was an Irish-born officer in the United States Army who served during the American Civil War and was later killed in the Battle of Little Bighorn.

Other noteworthy historical figures with the name Myles include Myles Standish (c.1584-1656), an English military officer who played a leading role in the Plymouth Colony in present-day Massachusetts, and Myles Dillon (1900-1972), an Irish scholar and professor of Early and Medieval Irish at University College Dublin.

Throughout its history, the name Myles has maintained a strong association with military service and leadership, reflecting its roots as a name derived from the Greek word for "soldier." While not as common as some other English names, it has endured as a distinct and historically significant name across various periods and cultures.