Mila

Often associated with Slavic roots meaning “dear,” “gracious,” or “beloved.”

Mila is a feminine given name that appears across multiple Slavic-language traditions and is also widely used internationally today. It’s short, easy to spell, and tends to travel well across accents, which has helped it become common outside of its original linguistic sphere. Etymologically, Mila is tied to the Slavic root mil-, commonly associated with meanings like “dear,” “pleasant,” “kind,” or “gracious.” In many Slavic contexts, Mila can be used as a standalone name and also as a short form for longer names that contain the same root, such as Milena or Ludmila. Because it functions both ways, you may see it described either as an independent name or as a familiar form depending on the family tradition. Pronunciation in English is commonly MEE-luh with two syllables. A practical tip is that it’s easy to misread as MY-luh in some contexts; if that matters, emphasizing the long “ee” sound in the first syllable usually clarifies it quickly.

Etymology: Mila is used in Slavic languages as a standalone name and also as a short form of longer names built from the Slavic root mil- (for example, Milena or Ludmila). That root is commonly associated with ideas like “dear,” “pleasant,” or “gracious.”