Given name & surname
Milly
“a ceremonial attendant; a noble virgin”·“woman of gentle strength”·“rival”
In English use, Milly is a diminutive of Camilla. In Italian use, Camilla carries the interpretation “a ceremonial attendant; a noble virgin.” In English use, Milly is a diminutive of Mildred. One English interpretation is “woman of gentle strength.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
In English use, Milly is a diminutive of Camilla. In Italian use, Camilla carries the interpretation “a ceremonial attendant; a noble virgin.” In English use, Milly is a diminutive of Mildred. One English interpretation is “woman of gentle strength.” In English use, Milly is a diminutive of Emily. The Roman family name behind Emily is probably connected with the Latin word for “rival,” although that derivation is uncertain. In English use, Milly is a diminutive of Millicent. One French interpretation is “a woman with great strength and determination.”
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
In English use, Milly is a diminutive of Mildred. An origin associated with Mildred is Old English. In English use, Milly is a diminutive of Emily. Emily is an English development of the Latin feminine name Aemilia. In English use, Milly is a diminutive of Millicent. An origin associated with Millicent is Germanic.
Explained through its name family
How it developed
In English usage, Milly is a diminutive of Emily. In English usage, Milly is a diminutive of Mildred. In English use, Milly is a diminutive of Emily. The shared background comes through Emily: Aemilia is the feminine form of Aemilius. Emily developed through a medieval version of that name; the proposed root is aemulus, “rival.”
Combines direct and name-family evidence
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1884. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin. In English use, Milly is a diminutive of Emily. The history of Emily gives this family its wider story. Emily was relatively uncommon in the Middle Ages and was revived in the nineteenth century. At that time, Emilia and the separately rooted Amelia were often confused, helping explain their overlapping naming histories.
Combines direct and name-family evidence
Milly through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 3,347
- 0 boys · 3,347 girls
- Most popular year
- 2014
- 129 babies
- 2025
- 113
- #1,790 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +8%
- Steady
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 113 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 1,790 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 7.5% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 129 in 2014. In 2025, California had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (10). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 3,002 as a first name in 2020; 100 as a surname in 2000.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Milly’s family of names
In English usage, Milly is a diminutive of Emily. Milly has a related form in Mildred. In English usage, Milly is a diminutive of Mildred.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Nicknames & forms 6
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 1
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Across languages 2
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
See also 1
Names our sources mention alongside this one. They are related in story or meaning, not forms of this name.
People named Milly
- Milly AlcockAustralian actress (born 2000)
- Milly ScottDutch singer and actress (born 1933)
- Milly WitkopUkrainian-born Jewish anarcho-syndicalist and feminist writer and activist1877–1955
- Milly CarlucciItalian television presenter, actress and singerborn 1954
- Milly QuezadaDominican Republic singerborn 1955
- Milly CleggNew Zealand footballerborn 2005
- Milly TannerBritish cyclistborn 1999
- Milly ShapiroAmerican actress and singerborn 2002
- GirliBritish singer and rapperborn 1997
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Milly, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Miley
“one who is merciful” · “a soldier”
>99% girls
Lilly
“God is my oath” · “My God is bountiful”
>99% girls
Mila
“one who is industrious and hardworking”
>99% girls
Milani
Milani is a feminine given name.
>99% girls
Myla
“one who is merciful”
>99% girls
Kali
“the dark one; in Hinduism, a destructive force” · “one who provides comfort”
3% boys · 97% girls
Lily
Lily is used as a given name and a surname. One English interpretation is “resembling the flower; one who is innocent and beautiful.”
>99% girls
Malia
“Mary” · “calm”
>99% girls