Miles
Gender: Boy
Meaning: Soldier; merciful
Origin: Latin miles (soldier), or possibly from the Slavic root mil (gracious, dear)
Popularity: Ranked #44 in 2025 with 6,072 babies born.
History: Miles has a split personality — Latin for soldier, yet it carries an association with grace and artistry through Miles Davis, the jazz trumpeter who is widely considered one of the greatest musicians of the 20th century. His albums Kind of Blue and Bitches Brew defined entire eras of music. The name has been used in England since the Norman Conquest and has been steadily popular in America. It entered the U.S. top 100 in the 2000s and top 50 by the 2010s, beloved for its cool, one-syllable snap and its unbeatable jazz credentials.
Famous people named Miles: Miles Davis (musician), Miles Morales (Spider-Man)
Name length: 5 letters
How common is Miles? About 1 in 547 babies born in 2025 were named Miles, or roughly 16.7 per day in the United States.
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Frequently asked about Miles
What does the name Miles mean?
Miles means “Soldier; merciful” from Latin miles (soldier), or possibly from the Slavic root mil (gracious, dear) roots.
What is the origin of the name Miles?
Miles has Latin miles (soldier), or possibly from the Slavic root mil (gracious, dear) origin. The traditional meaning is “Soldier; merciful”.
How popular is Miles?
Miles ranked #44 in 2025 — given to 6,072 babies that year.
When was Miles most popular?
Miles peaked in 2024 with 6,611 babies registered that year.
Is Miles a boy or girl name?
Miles is predominantly a boys' name — over 90% of Miless in registered births are male.
Is the name Miles rising or falling in popularity?
Miles has risen 11250 spots in the rankings over the last 5 years — from #11294 in 2020 to #44 in 2025.
How long has Miles been recorded?
Miles appears in birth records across 146 years — from 1880 through 2025.