Alternatives to Mila

A short, breezy name with a sophisticated yet upbeat image, that doesn't betray its Irish roots. Bree first came to notice here in 1971 via the complex prostitute character in the movie Klute, which earned Jane Fonda an Oscar. More recently, it was tied to the character of Bree Van de Kamp on Desperate Housewives.

Misha was a boys' name with a soft feminine sound and vowel ending until actress Mischa Barton turned it to the girls' side. Now Misha, like Sasha, works as well in either spelling for girls and boys. Misha might be a way to update Michelle or Micaela.

In many Slavic and other European countries, Milan is purely a boys’ name, but in the US, it's also popular for girls – no doubt inspired by the fashionable Italian city. It entered the Top 1000 for boys in 2013, while for girls it has been in the Top 1000 since 2009. Currently, it is given to three boys for everyone one girl.

A simple name that's rising fast in the US, likely inspired by the popularity of Isla and Ayla. This streamlined form might appeal to those who like Ana, Ivy, and Ada, and it brings a multicultural element to the name.

An attractive and unusual name that may be a variation of Cleo, Clea was possibly invented by Lawrence Durrell for a character in his Alexandria Quartet.

A sweet and simple multicultural choice which has several different meanings and origins.

Marilla is a names that's familiar via its resemblance to Mary and variations, but also distinctive: It hasn't been on the Top 1000 since the 1800s and was given to only 27 baby girls last year.

Milla originated as a diminutive of names like Camilla and Ludmilla, but has since become well established as a name in its own right in several European countries. Milla Jovovich is a Ukrainian-born actress and supermodel, while Milla is also used for a character in the novel and musical adaptation, Wicked.

This is a rich, melodic shortening of the popular girls' name Amelia that can stand on its own. There are several figures in Greek myth named Melia, most notably a daughter of Oceanus. The Meliae are nymphs associated with trees.

Marla might have dropped out of style in the US back in the 90s, but it has seen a resurgence in the UK in recent years. With a little dated charm about it, this variation of Marlene, itself a variant of Magdalene and Mary, blends in with the likes of Marley, Marlowe, Mila, Myla, Martha, and Maya. It was a fast rising choice in 2023 in both England and Wales, and Croatia.

This pretty, international feminization of Matthew was chosen by Mira Sorvino for her daughter, Mattea Angel. As the Spanish Mateo and the Italian Matteo become more popular for baby boys throughout Europe, the English-speaking world, and the Americas, Mattea is sure to get wider recognition. And as Theo and Thea have become fashionable names, Teo and Tea are rising too.

A relatively new name on the scene, increasing in popularity since 1999. It is likely a variation of Nia, a Swahili name based on the Arabic Niya meaning "tenacity, purpose, determination". Alternatively it may be based on Naia, a Basque name meaning "sea foam, wave" or it may simply be a modern creation, influenced by the popularity of Mia, Mya, Kaia, and similar.

Although Lumi (Finnish for "snow") is far more popular, the elaboration Lumia is used in Finland as well. It's also a technical word in English for patterns of light used as an art form, and in Italian it refers to the citron fruit and tree – a pear-shaped citrus fruit also known as a sweet lemon. Nokia chose the name for a brand of smartphone, now discontinued.

Turkish and Bosnian form of the Arabic name Asma, with the powerful meaning of "supreme".

This obscure but simple name is related to a Latinized form of an ancient Greek appellation that receives a mention in both Plato's Dialogues and the New Testament. Timmea and Timmia have also been found.

This Slavic classic name might begin to make its mark with American parents, what with the growing popularity of the short form Mila. Borne by a tenth century saint who had been a princess from Bohemia, Ludmila is widely used in Russia, Ukraine and Bulgaria.

While only 8 baby girls were named Milia in the US in 2021, its rise seems inevitable along with the rise of Emilia and Mila and other similar names. Like Livia, Milia has the advantage of being different from the rest, but the disadvantage of maybe not being different enough (and being a word for tiny, harmless white spots on skin).

Maila is a feminine name with diverse cultural origins. In Finnish, it's a variant of Maija, itself a form of Maria, ultimately meaning 'bitter' or 'beloved' from Hebrew origins. In the Philippines, Maila relates to 'mailap,' suggesting something elusive or hard to catch. The name gained some recognition through Finnish-American actress Maila Nurmi, who created the iconic character Vampira in the 1950s. With its simple two-syllable structure and melodic sound, Maila has an accessible international quality while remaining distinctive. The name has never been extremely common in any culture but maintains steady usage in Finland and parts of Southeast Asia. Its cross-cultural nature makes it appealing to parents seeking a name that works well across language boundaries while remaining relatively uncommon.

Albert Einstein's first wife was Mileva Marić, a Serbian student and his classmate at the Zurich Polytechnic (her childhood nickname was Mitza.) With the newfound popularity of Mila, this obscure Old Slavic name may be discovered outside of its native land.