Mila in Chinese
Mila in Chinese is 米拉 (Mǐ Lā).
- Origin
- Slavic
- Meaning
- gracious, dear
Mila is a name of Slavic origin, generally understood to mean "gracious, dear". It first shows up in US Social Security records in 1881 and peaked in 2017.
3 ways to write Mila
phonetic
Following the sound of your name
米拉
Mǐ Lā
The standard transliteration of Mila: 米 (mǐ, "rice"), 拉 (lā, "to pull (phonetic 'la')"). Chosen for sound, it is instantly recognizable as this name.
Why these characters?
Syllable by syllable: 米 (mǐ) carries "mi", 拉 (lā) carries "la". The tone contour is 3-1 (dipping, high level).
Character breakdown
14 strokes total (simplified)- 米
mǐ
Tone 3 · 6 strokes (simplified)
rice
- 拉
lā
Tone 1 · 8 strokes (simplified)
to pull (phonetic 'la')
PNG · black on white
Stroke order
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meaningful
Chosen for meaning and association
雅惠
Yǎ Huì
Inspired by "gracious, dear": 雅 (yǎ, "elegant, refined") + 惠 (huì, "kindness, favor"), expressing grace and kindness.
Why these characters?
Because Mila is linked to "gracious", the name leads with 雅 (elegant, refined); 惠 (kindness, favor) gives it a natural given-name finish.
Character breakdown
24 strokes total (simplified)- 雅
yǎ
Tone 3 · 12 strokes (simplified)
elegant, refined
- 惠
huì
Tone 4 · 12 strokes (simplified)
kindness, favor
PNG · black on white
Stroke order
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balanced
A balance of sound and meaning
苗淑
Miáo Shū
苗 (miáo, "sprout, seedling") + 淑 (shū, "virtuous, gentle (of women)"): echoes the sound of the English name while carrying meaning.
Why these characters?
苗 (miáo) sounds close to the opening "mi" of Mila (compare 米 mǐ) but means "sprout, seedling"; 淑 adds "virtuous, gentle (of women)".
Character breakdown
20 strokes total (simplified)- 苗
miáo
Tone 2 · 9 strokes (simplified)
sprout, seedling
- 淑
shū
Tone 1 · 11 strokes (simplified)
virtuous, gentle (of women)
PNG · black on white
Stroke order
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Recent US usage of Mila
In the Social Security Administration’s 2020–2025 snapshot, Mila ranked 31 among names recorded for girls, with 35,670 registrations in that group across the period. These are US birth-name records, rather than search counts or a ranking of Chinese names. The period covers part of a decade; it is not a final ranking for the whole 2020s.
Compare the dated figures in the SSA’s official 2020s name table. This snapshot was checked on 2026-10-15; any historical figures on this page describe their own stated period.
Popularity in the US
US Social Security records show 33,243 girls named Mila since 1881, with the high point in 2017 (5,941 births) and the busiest decade being the 2010s. Between 1990 and 2017 it climbed, from #4523 to #30 among girls.
- Peak year
- 2017
- Peak decade
- 2010s
- First year
- 1881
- Total since 1880
- 33,243
More About Mila in Chinese
The Chinese translation of Mila offers multiple styles to suit different preferences. Whether you prefer a phonetic transliteration that sounds like your name, or a meaningful interpretation that captures the essence of Mila, you'll find options that work for you.
If you're exploring Chinese names for girls, you might also be interested in Hayley in Chinese, Violet in Chinese, and Aria in Chinese. Each name has its own unique character combinations and meanings.
Other popular choices include Penelope in Chinese, Hazel in Chinese, and Luna in Chinese, each with beautiful traditional and simplified character options.
When choosing Chinese characters for Mila, consider whether you want:
- Phonetic accuracy: Characters that sound like Mila to native Chinese speakers
- Meaningful symbolism: Characters chosen for their beautiful meanings and cultural significance
- Balanced approach: A combination of sound and meaning that works well in both languages
Browse our complete A-Z index of Chinese names to explore more options, or start with our curated list of popular names in Chinese to see what others are choosing.
Frequently asked questions
How do you write Mila in Chinese?
米拉 (Mǐ Lā), identical in simplified and traditional script. This is the conventional transliteration used in Chinese media.
Does Mila change in traditional Chinese?
No. 米拉 uses only characters that are the same in both scripts, so one design works everywhere.
Is there a Chinese name for Mila with real meaning?
Try 雅惠 (Yǎ Huì): elegant, refined + kindness, favor, inspired by "gracious, dear". For something that still sounds like Mila, 苗淑 (Miáo Shū) is a middle ground.