Boy Name · Surname Origin
Mills
Mills is a boy's name whose meaning is not firmly attested in the historical record. It is a boy's name of Surname origin, and it is rare in the United States today — outside the SSA top 1,000.
Origin and meaning: English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0). Popularity: US Social Security Administration.
Mills — a boy name from the Surname tradition — is an uncommon, standout choice. If Milas is on your shortlist, Mills belongs in the same conversation.
Mills meaning, origin, and usage
Meaning: Mills has a distinctive sound and evolving modern usage.
Origin: Surname naming roots help connect Mills to related Surname baby names.
Pronunciation: Baby Name Studio pronounces Mills as M·I·L·L·S, with 5 letters and a boy usage profile.
Popularity: According to Baby Name Studio's 2026 tracker, Mills is an uncommon, standout choice in the Rare tier.
Mills variants, nicknames, middle names, and sibling names
- Variants and spelling ideas: Millsa, Millse, Millsy, Mill.
- Nicknames: Mil and M.
- Middle names: Pair Mills with a middle name that balances its substantial sound; start with the Mills middle name generator.
- Sibling names: Milas, Miles, Myles, Malik, Malachi — full picks on the sibling names for Mills guide for a cohesive sibset.
- Similar names: Looking for names that sound like Mills? Browse our names like Mills guide for phonetic-neighbor picks.
- Explore more: use the Baby Name Explorer, name search, AI name generator, and Baby Name Studio homepage.
Frequently asked about Mills
What does the name Mills mean?
Mills has no single meaning that is firmly attested in the historical record. It is used as a boy name in US birth records, and parents usually choose it for its sound rather than a documented meaning.
What is the origin of Mills?
Mills originates in Surname naming tradition.
How do you pronounce Mills?
Mills has 5 letters and is most commonly stressed on the first syllable.
Is Mills a boy's or girl's name?
Mills is primarily used as a boy's name in US records.
How popular is Mills in 2026?
In our 2026 popularity tracker, Mills sits in the Rare tier — an uncommon, standout choice.
What names are similar to Mills?
Names that share Mills's sound and style include Milas, Miles, Myles, Malik, Malachi.
What middle names pair well with Mills?
Good middle-name fits for Mills pair an opposite syllable rhythm: if Mills is short, lean longer (e.g. classical or three-syllable middles); if Mills is longer, a one-syllable middle keeps the full name from feeling heavy.
What are good sibling names for Mills?
Sibling names that pair naturally with Mills share its rhythm without rhyming — Milas, Miles, Myles all sit comfortably alongside it on a shortlist.