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Miller

♂ Boy

Pronounced MIL-er /ˈmɪl.ər/High

Meaning: From the Middle English occupational surname 'miller', denoting a person who operated a grain mill — from Old English 'mylen' (mill) and Latin 'molere' (to grind).High

In 30 seconds: Miller is a classic Old English occupational surname meaning 'one who grinds grain' — now a fashionable, clean-cut first name. Part of the trend toward everyday-nobility surname names, it has a grounded, unpretentious charm.
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Origin HighOld English, Middle English
MeaningFrom the Middle English occupational surname 'miller', denoting a person who operated a grain mill — from Old English 'mylen' (mill) and Latin 'molere' (to grind).
U.S. rank (2025)#369 ↗ Rising
2025 U.S. births864 boys (0.05% of U.S. boys)
Peak year2025
Total births (all-time)≈ 11,170

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 202518802025

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

History & Origin

Miller derives from the Middle English occupational term for one who operated a mill, from Old English mylen (mill) and ultimately Latin molere (to grind). The miller was a central figure in medieval village life, grinding the grain that fed entire communities. The surname Miller became one of the most common in England, Scotland, and subsequently the United States.

As a given name, Miller has emerged in the United States in the twenty-first century as part of the trend of occupational and everyday surname names crossing to given-name use. It has a clean, unpretentious quality that pairs well with more elaborate middle names. Miller entered the US top 500 boys' names in the 2010s and is growing steadily.

Did you know? Miller is one of the three most common English occupational surnames, alongside Smith and Taylor — reflecting the central importance of the mill in medieval village life, where the miller was often one of the most powerful and controversial members of the community, depicted in Chaucer's Canterbury Tales.
Overall data confidence 93%
Oxford Dictionary of English Surnames — Old English and Middle English etymology of millerSocial Security Administration Name Data — US popularity trends for Miller as a first name

Variations

Millar

Nicknames

MillMilo

Famous Bearers

  • ★Arthur Miller (1915–2005)
    American playwright, author of Death of a Salesman and The Crucible, one of the great American dramatists.

If you like Miller…

Fletcher— two-syllable Old English occupational surname used as a first name in the same modern trend
Cooper— two-syllable Old English occupational surname name with the same grounded, everyday-noble quality
Tanner— two-syllable Old English occupational surname name with the same clean, masculine character

Frequently Asked

What does the name Miller mean?

Miller means 'one who operates a mill' or 'grain grinder', from the Old English/Middle English occupational surname.

How do you pronounce Miller?

Miller is pronounced MIL-er (/ˈmɪl.ər/), two syllables with stress on the first.

Is Miller a boy or girl name?

Miller is predominantly a boy's name, though it occasionally appears for girls.

How popular is Miller?

Miller entered the US top 500 boys' names in the 2010s and is growing as a fresh occupational surname first name.