The name Miles is of Latin origin and means "soldier" or "merciful". It is derived from the Latin word "miles", which was used to refer to a soldier in the Roman army. The name has been used throughout history, with some notable figures bearing it including Saint Miles, who was a Christian martyr in the 3rd century, and Sir Thomas Miles, who was a knight and landowner in England during the reign of Henry VIII.
The name Miles has been popular in various forms throughout history. In ancient Rome, it was common for men to be named Miles as a way to honor their service in the military. During the Middle Ages, the name was often used as a given name, with some variations such as Milés and Myles also being popular.
In recent years, the name Miles has seen a resurgence in popularity. It ranked among the top 1000 names for boys in several English-speaking countries in the late 20th and early 21st centuries. The name is often associated with the idea of strength and bravery, due to its origins as a military title.
Overall, Miles is a name with a long history and a strong meaning. Whether you are looking for a name that honors a family member who served in the military or simply want a name with a powerful and meaningful origin, Miles is an excellent choice.
The name Miles has seen a significant increase in popularity over the past few decades in the United States. Between 1927 and 2023, there were a total of 322 babies named Miles at birth.
The name first appeared on record in 1927 with only 8 births that year. It remained relatively uncommon until the late 1970s when it began to gain traction, with 5 births each in 1976 and 1982.
In the 1980s, Miles started to become more popular, reaching a peak of 9 births in 1986. This trend continued into the 1990s, with several years seeing double-digit numbers of births: 11 in 1992, 7 in both 2005 and 2008, and 8 in 2009.
The early 2000s marked a turning point for the name Miles. While there were still some years with fewer than ten births (such as 2000 with 5 births), the number of Miles babies began to steadily increase over time.
From 2013 onwards, there was a noticeable surge in popularity for the name Miles. That year saw 13 births, which grew to 19 in 2014 and peaked at 22 in 2023. This indicates that Miles is currently one of the most popular boys' names in the United States.
Overall, these statistics show a consistent growth in popularity for the name Miles over time, with significant increases occurring since around the year 2013.