Mills
From mills, in reference to mill owners and mill workers.
Every Mills since 1882 — 1,045 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Mills
Mills is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #2,783 in 2025 with 46 babies given the name. It is currently rising compared with a decade ago.
Since 1882, 1,045 American babies have been named Mills — about 88% boys and 12% girls, making it a genuinely unisex name. Its peak came in 2025, when 61 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 2020s.
The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Mills stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Mills year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Girls | Girls rank | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 15 | #7,382 | 46 | #2,783 |
| 2024 | 15 | #7,484 | 43 | #2,943 |
| 2023 | 19 | #6,332 | 34 | #3,461 |
| 2022 | 21 | #5,911 | 24 | #4,394 |
| 2021 | 6 | #14,693 | 36 | #3,279 |
| 2020 | 6 | #14,553 | 29 | #3,701 |
| 2019 | 8 | #12,084 | 23 | #4,430 |
| 2018 | 11 | #9,617 | 30 | #3,675 |
| 2017 | 5 | #17,609 | 24 | #4,297 |
| 2016 | — | — | 22 | #4,577 |
| 2015 | 9 | #11,557 | 15 | #5,906 |
| 2014 | 6 | #15,911 | 10 | #7,945 |
| 2013 | 5 | #18,408 | 14 | #6,137 |
| 2012 | — | — | 20 | #4,807 |
| 2011 | — | — | 7 | #10,397 |
| 2010 | — | — | 8 | #9,380 |
| 2009 | — | — | 10 | #8,104 |
| 2008 | — | — | 9 | #8,781 |
| 2007 | — | — | 8 | #9,463 |
| 2006 | — | — | 10 | #7,818 |
| 2005 | — | — | 5 | #12,715 |
| 2004 | — | — | 8 | #8,666 |
| 2003 | — | — | 5 | #12,127 |
| 2002 | — | — | 9 | #7,447 |
| 2001 | — | — | 9 | #7,314 |
| 2000 | — | — | 14 | #5,228 |
| 1995 | — | — | — | — |
| 1990 | — | — | — | — |
| 1985 | — | — | — | — |
| 1980 | — | — | — | — |
| 1975 | — | — | — | — |
| 1970 | — | — | — | — |
| 1965 | — | — | — | — |
| 1960 | — | — | — | — |
| 1955 | — | — | — | — |
| 1950 | — | — | 8 | #2,948 |
| 1945 | — | — | 8 | #2,694 |
| 1940 | — | — | 7 | #3,040 |
| 1935 | — | — | 10 | #2,488 |
| 1930 | — | — | 5 | #4,366 |
| 1925 | — | — | 12 | #2,545 |
| 1920 | — | — | 14 | #2,302 |
| 1915 | — | — | 7 | #3,280 |
| 1910 | — | — | — | — |
| 1905 | — | — | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — | 6 | #1,266 |
| 1895 | — | — | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — | — | — |
| 1885 | — | — | 6 | #900 |
| 1880 | — | — | — | — |
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Mills mean?
From mills, in reference to mill owners and mill workers.
How popular is the name Mills in 2025?
Mills ranked #2,783 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 46 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Mills?
1,045 babies have been named Mills in the United States since 1882, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Mills most popular?
Mills peaked in 2025, when 61 newborns received the name.
Is Mills a boy or girl name?
Mills is used for both: about 12% of babies named Mills have been girls and 88% boys.
Is the name Mills rising or falling?
Mills is on the rise — noticeably more popular now than a decade ago.