Milana

Meaning of Milana

Milana, most commonly rendered mih-LAH-nuh in English and mee-LAH-nah in its original Slavic setting, represents the feminine extension of the South and East Slavic name Milan and shares with that root the Proto-Slavic element mil-, signifying “gracious,” “dear,” or “beloved.” Although borne historically by medieval Eastern European princesses and, in modern culture, by actress-comedian Milana Vayntrub, the name’s appeal in the United States has unfolded only gradually: from single-digit annual usages in the late 1950s, it advanced in cautious increments through the late-twentieth century before stabilizing in the mid-600s range of the Social Security Administration’s popularity tables, a position it has maintained—within a narrow ±50-rank corridor—since 2014. Linguistically, Milana aligns with other affectionate Slavic feminines such as Milena and Mila, yet its phonetic proximity to the Italian fashion capital Milan lends it an urbane resonance that broadens its cross-cultural accessibility. Parents who favor names that balance continental sophistication with etymological depth may therefore find in Milana a judicious synthesis of melodic sound, historical pedigree, and contemporary familiarity.

Pronunciation

Russian

• Pronunced as mee-LAH-nah (/mi.ˈla.na/)

English

• Pronunced as mih-LAH-nuh (/mɪ.ˈlæ.nə/)

• Milena
• Eliana
• Liliana
• Alana
• Malina
• Marina
• Melina