UK girl's name
Milka
A feminine given name of Slavic origin meaning "gracious" or "dear".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2023. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Milka is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Milka popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2023 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5687, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2005, with 6 births.
This profile covers 27 England and Wales registrations across 7 recorded years from 2005 to 2023. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
The latest count is about 50% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 27 living people in the UK are called Milka. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2024 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Milka ranked #5687 for girls in England and Wales in 2023, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2005, when 6 girls were registered as Milka.
- • About 27 living people in the UK are estimated to have Milka as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5687
2023
Births in 2023
3
Latest year
Peak year
2005
6 births
Estimated living
27
2026
Meaning
What does Milka mean?
The name Milka has its origins in the Slavic languages, particularly in the Serbo-Croatian and Bulgarian regions. It is a diminutive form of the name Milica, which is derived from the Slavic root "mil," meaning "gracious" or "dear." The name Milka is believed to have emerged as a popular name during the Middle Ages in the Balkan region.
In the 14th century, the name Milka gained prominence with the birth of Milka Grbić, a Serbian noblewoman who lived from around 1335 to 1405. She was the daughter of the Serbian prince Jovan Grbić and played a significant role in the political affairs of the Serbian Despotate during that period.
Another notable figure with the name Milka was Milka Ternina (1863-1941), a Bulgarian writer and feminist activist. She was one of the pioneers of the women's rights movement in Bulgaria and worked tirelessly to promote women's education and suffrage.
In the realm of literature, the name Milka appears in the works of renowned Serbian author Ivo Andrić. His novel "The Bridge on the Drina" features a character named Milka, who represents the resilience and strength of the Serbian people during the Ottoman occupation.
One of the most famous bearers of the name Milka in modern times was Milka Planinc (1924-2010), a prominent Slovenian politician who served as the first female Prime Minister of Yugoslavia from 1982 to 1986. She was a respected leader and played a crucial role in the country's political landscape during the transitional period leading up to the dissolution of Yugoslavia.
Another notable figure was Milka Trnina (1863-1941), a Bulgarian writer and feminist activist who was instrumental in promoting women's rights and education in Bulgaria during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. She founded the first high school for girls in Sofia and was a pioneering figure in the Bulgarian women's movement.
While the name Milka has its origins in the Slavic regions, it has gained recognition and popularity in various parts of the world due to cultural exchanges and migrations. The name continues to carry the connotations of grace, kindness, and endearment, reflecting its Slavic roots.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Milka over time
The chart below shows babies named Milka registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2005 to 2023. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Milka, the clearest high point is 2005. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2023, compared with 6 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Milka by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Milka was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | #5687 | 3 | 1 |
| 2010s | #5077 | 15 | 4 |
| 2000s | #4263 | 9 | 2 |
Related
Names similar to Milka
- Megan 70,884
- Mia 67,204
- Molly 47,734
- Millie 44,390
- Maisie 32,671
- Matilda 29,965
- Maya 26,445
- Madison 18,441
- Maria 17,304
- Mollie 15,914
- Martha 15,116
- Maddison 14,918
FAQ
Milka: questions and answers
How popular is the name Milka in the UK right now?
In 2023, Milka was ranked #5687 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Milka most popular?
The peak year on record was 2005, with 6 babies registered as Milka in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Milka?
A feminine given name of Slavic origin meaning "gracious" or "dear".
How many people are called Milka in the UK?
A total of 27 babies have been registered as Milka across the 7 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.