The name Milo is derived from multiple sources. In Slavic languages, the root mil- means “dear” or “beloved,” and the name may have come from a Latinized form of this root. However, some believe the name is related to the Latin word “miles,” meaning “soldier,” or even the ancient Greek word “milos” for “yew-flower”.

In the 20th century, the name Milo remained somewhat under the radar. Between 1966 and 2000, it was not even ranked among the top-1,000 boy names in the U.S. In recent years, however, it has started rising in popularity. In 2015, Milo became one of the top 300 names for boys in America for the first time since at least 1900, and it has kept climbing. The latest statistics show Milo ranked as the No. 134 boy name in the U.S. as of 2020. Although the name Milo is typically used as a masculine name, it can be used however you see fit as sex doesn’t have to be a part of your name selection process.

Similar Names

Milo is closely related to the more common name Miles (also spelled as Myles). Other variants include Milos, Miloš, and Milosz. In addition, the root mil- (“dear” or “beloved”) is found in many Slavic names including Milivoj, Milomir, Miloslav, Miłowan, Radmilo, Tihomil, and Vlastimil.  Other boy names starting with M:

MalcolmMarcusMarioMarleyMarshallMasonMatthewMaxwellMiltonMitchell

Other boy names from ancient Greece:

AchillesAdonisAlexanderDorianJasonLeanderNicholasOrionOrpheusSebastian

Suggested Sibling Names

AriannaBrandonChaseColeGavinIrisMelodyParkerVivianWestonZachary

Famous People Named Milo

Many people over the years have had the name Milo or variations of it. Here are some of the most notable.

Milo M. Acker, American politician who was a member of the New York State AssemblyMilo Aukerman, American musician and biochemist, lead singer for the punk rock band the DescendentsMilo Samuel Baker, American botanist who was a president of the California Botanical SocietyMilo Butler, the first Governor-General of the BahamasMilo Cawthorne, New Zealand actor best known for his role in the TV series “Power Rangers RPM”Milo Dor, Serbian-Austrian author known for the trilogy of novels known as “The Raikow Saga”Milo Đukanović, the current President of MontenegroMilo Emil Halbheer, German artist known for his paintings of the French countrysideMilo Hamilton, American sportscaster known for his play-by-play commentary on Major League BaseballMilo Hrnić, Croatian pop singerMilo Manheim, American actor known for his role in the Disney Channel Original Movie “Zombies” and his appearances on “Dancing With the Stars”Milo O’Shea, Irish actor known for his supporting role in the film “The Verdict” and in various TV seriesMilo of Croton, ancient Greek wrestler known for his extraordinary strengthMilo Parker, British actor known for his role in the film “Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children”Milo Radulovich, U.S. Air Force reserve lieutenant who was suspected of communist sympathiesMilo Ventimiglia, American actor best known for his role as Jack Pearson in the TV series “This Is Us”Milo Yiannopoulos, English far-right political commentator and media personality

Fictional Milos:

Milo, the main character in the 1961 children’s novel “The Phantom Tollbooth”Milo Bloom, a journalist in the comic strip “Bloom County”Milo Minderbinder, a savvy businessman in Joseph Heller’s 1961 novel “Catch-22” and its sequel, “Closing Time”Milo Murphy, the main character in the Disney TV series “Milo Murphy’s Law”Milo Pressman, a computer analyst in the TV series “24”Milo Rambaldi, a genius and renaissance man in the TV series “Alias”Milo Standish, a scientist in the 1986 novel “Brothers” by William Goldman

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