Mills
Meaningnear the mills · English
- US rank
- #2,765
- Syllables
- 1
- Peak
- #691 in 1882
46 babies were named Mills in the US in 2025. It has climbed 888 places in five years.
Save adds it to your list. Vote moves it up the top voted names.
US births per million girls, 2013–2025
US births per million boys, 1882–2025
Most popular states (2025)
Similar names
Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
Did you know?
A few things about Mills you might not know, from US birth records. Handy for convincing a partner, or a grandparent.
- How commonAbout 1 in every 37,175 baby boys born in the US in 2025 was named Mills, 46 babies in all. In a typical school of 500 kids, your Mills would very likely be the only one.
- HistoryMills first shows up in US birth records in 1882, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 143 years since.
- Best yearIt was far more popular in 1882, when it ranked #691. Today it's #2,765, so it could be due a comeback.
- Then vs nowMills is 3.8× more common today than it was in 2000. In 2000 it was given to about 1 in 140,845 baby boys; in 2025, about 1 in 37,175.
- TrendMills has climbed 888 places in the US rankings over the last five years and now sits at #2,765. Fast risers like this often keep climbing, so expect to hear it more.
- Where it's lovedMills is most popular in Alabama, where it ranks #685, followed by South Carolina (#743). It's in the top 1,000 in 2 states.
- Boy or girlMills is given to both boys and girls: 75% of the 61 babies named Mills in 2025 were boys. That makes it one of the names that truly works for either.
- MeaningIn English, Mills means “near the mills”.
About the name Mills
Mills is a gender-neutral name of English origin meaning “near the mills”. It has 5 letters and 1 syllable, starting with M and ending in “-lls”. US birth records list Mills for boys from 1882 to 2025, in 81 of those 144 years. Its best year was 1882, when it ranked #691 among boy names. In 2025 it ranked #2,765, with 46 babies. Of the 61 US babies named Mills in 2025, 25% were girls and 75% were boys.
Origin:English names
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 3.6 | 275,591 girls |
| 2020s | 8.4 | 118,577 girls |
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1880s | 23 | 44,370 boys |
| 1890s | 4.2 | 239,234 boys |
| 1900s | 4.0 | 250,627 boys |
| 1910s | 11 | 92,507 boys |
| 1920s | 9.4 | 106,610 boys |
| 1930s | 6.2 | 161,551 boys |
| 1940s | 4.6 | 215,517 boys |
| 1950s | 2.0 | 502,513 boys |
| 1960s | 0.3 | 3,571,429 boys |
| 1980s | 1.3 | 781,250 boys |
| 1990s | 1.8 | 568,182 boys |
| 2000s | 4.3 | 229,885 boys |
| 2010s | 9.3 | 107,875 boys |
| 2020s | 20 | 48,820 boys |
More English names
- Girl name: Olivia · olive tree
- Girl name: Charlotte · free
- Boy name: Oliver · olive tree
- Boy name: Henry · ruler of the home
- Unisex name: James · supplanter
- Boy name: William · resolute protector
- Boy name: Benjamin · son of the right hand
- Boy name: Jack · God is gracious
Questions about the name Mills
What does the name Mills mean?
Mills means “near the mills” in English.
What is the origin of the name Mills?
Mills has English roots in our records. Other English names include Olivia, Charlotte, Oliver.
Is Mills a boy or girl name?
Both. Mills is used for boys and girls: in 2025, 25% of US babies named Mills were girls.
How popular is the name Mills?
Mills ranked #2,765 for US boys in 2025, given to 46 babies. Its best year was 1882 (#691).