Miles
MYELZ /maɪlz/
Meaning of Miles
Miles has two competing etymologies. The Old German root milo could mean 'merciful' or 'mild'; the Latin miles simply means 'soldier.' Both interpretations have historical support. The name entered England via the Normans and was common in medieval English records. Its modern revival is partly driven by Miles Davis (jazz musician) and by a preference for short, classic English names.
Current popularity of Miles
Rankings from the most recent fully-published year in each national registry. Source links at the foot of the page.
| Registry | Year | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| United States (SSA) | 2024 | #52 |
| United Kingdom (ONS) | 2024 | #60 |
Notable bearers of Miles
Miles Davis (jazz musician, 1926–1991); Miles Morales (Spider-Man).
Similar names & variants
Cognates, spelling variants and close relatives. Click any name with an underline to read its own page.
Sibling-name suggestions
Names that pair stylistically with Miles — useful as middle names or for siblings.
About this entry
Compiled by the Baby Name Finder editorial team following the rules in our Methodology and Editorial guidelines. If you spot an error, please tell us; our corrections policy is at /editorial-guidelines#corrections.
Sources
Last reviewed: 2026-05-31