The Baby Name Wizard

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Contribute to, or edit, this collection of community wisdom on the name Miles!

Comments and insights on the name Miles: | Edit

The meaning that Lois McMaster Bujold gives for Miles (In her Miles Vorkosigan space opera series) is the "Possibly Latin" one of "soldier."
Her Miles is born on a military-mad planet and embarks on a military career despite physical handicaps of extreme shortness(4'9") and weak bones which are due to a pre-natal poison gas exposure.Great character, great series, read it if you like any science fiction.

Personal experiences with the name Miles: | Edit

My name is Miles and I've had this name all of my life. Growing up, a few people would tease me about my name but I wasn't subjected to harsh bullying based on my name alone. I went to a school where I was the only person named Miles for the 9 years that I attended. In high school, I was the only one named Miles again, besides one other boy whose real name wasn't even Miles. I like my name because it is unique, memorable, and I can almost always bet that I'm never going to enter a room with anyone else that has the same name, unless I'm at a convention for guys named "Miles." It's a name that I didn't enjoy at first, but I do enjoy the individuality and memorability of my name when I meet people and introduce myself. People tend not to forget me. They may forget my face, but the name sticks usually. If you would like to name your child this name but would like other nickname ideas, I have a few. Some people called me "Milo", "Les", "Milesy", "MyMy", "Lee", etc. You can be as creative or traditional as you want with this name. Just don't forget to spell it with an "i" and not a "y."

We named our son "Miles"(born 2007). We liked it because it was easy to spell/pronounce, a "known" name, but not too common, and we just liked the sound of it. Turns out, we weren't alone, Miles keep popping up everywhere! Oh well, we tried, and we still like it!

********** A few years ago, I woke up and my dad said we got a call. It was from my mama, who was in Phoenix with my Auntie. She said we had a new cousin. Miles. I was confused. *Miles* was a way to measure how far you went. And this was the name of my cousin? !?What?! Now, I like the name. It is different. Unique, if you must. Still not my favorite name, but it's not as bad.******************

Nicknames for Miles: | Edit

Milesy (for a little boy!)
Milo
Milos (Italian)
(S)Miles
Mr. Miles
Maya(baby-talk)
Baby Smiles

Meanings and history of the name Miles: | Edit

Greek: millstone.
Latin: soldier
German: merciful
English: a short form of Michael
Had my son been born in Canada, he'd be named Kilometers, not Miles!

Famous real-life people named Miles: | Edit

Miles Standish, Military Captain of the American colonies.
Miles Davis, American jazz trumpeter, bandleader, and composer.
Miles Austin, American football wide receiver for the Dallas Cowboys.

Miles in song, story & screen: | Edit

Miles and Maizy were the twins on the movie 'Uncle Buck'
Gordon and Olivia's son on Seseme Street is named Miles.
Miles Silverberg on the TV show Murphy Brown
In the 2008 movie '21' there is a character named Miles
The Courtship of Miles Standish, a poem by Longfellow.
Miles Raymond, main character in the movie Sideways.
Lord Miles Naismith Vorkosigan/alias Admiral Miles Naismith, the lead character of Lois McMaster Bujold's space opera series
Miles is the possibly innocent, possibly demonic, absolutely scary little boy in Henry James' novella, "The Turn of the Screw"
Miles Tuck, character in Tuck Everlasting, a novel by Natalie Babbitt
Miles Edgeworth, a prosecutor in the video game series, "Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney."
Miles O'Brien, engineer in "Star Trek: The Next Generation" and "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine."
The Miles Franklin Award is a major literary prize in Australia.
Miles Bletchley, Slytherin Keeper in the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling