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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

Opinions on the name Miles?

85 replies

Thelightblueduck · 06/06/2025 09:22

Never ever had this name as a contender until a week ago.

Kind of irrelevant but strange back story to where I’ve got the name from:

My husband suggested it as we were on our way to the airport a week ago, and a singer on the radio was named Miles and I loved it.

The next day, I went to read a book I bought for my holiday - the main character was named Miles and his mother in the book has my name!

The day after, my husband saw a TikTok of a baby named Miles and the babies surname was my maiden name.

I feel like the universe is sending me a hard sign here that the baby wants to be called Miles 🤣

His name, since before I was even pregnant, was going to be Xander. But something is pulling me towards Miles now and I think I really love the name.
What do you all think of the name? Is it crazy to change his name when I’m 7 months pregnant, on a whim?

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mepipesneedlagging · 06/06/2025 10:23

Frasier's brother. Nope.

Lindy2 · 06/06/2025 10:18

I've always liked the name Miles. It's a little different but without being too unusual.

I only know one in real life and he spells it Myles but both spellings are fine.

Fantasticfrollics · 06/06/2025 10:14

I like it, I think it's quite cool. But it rhymes with 'piles' and that puts me right off it

PurpleReindeer2 · 06/06/2025 10:14

I don't like Miles. Prefer Alexander which you could shorten to Xander if you want to.

WaltzingWaters · 06/06/2025 10:09

I’m not a fan of Miles personally. But I love Xander.

MatildaMovesMountains · 06/06/2025 10:06

Miles means soldier - do you want a warlike name?

Matchalattecoco · 06/06/2025 10:05

I like both names! I always think wait until you see your baby as then you’ll know for definite which name suits them best.

Shelly1973ish · 06/06/2025 10:04

I love it!
But spelt as Myles

olivehater · 06/06/2025 10:02

Prefer it spelt Myles. Somehow it’s a bit cooler.

Never really liked Xander. Feels a bit try hard. Call them Alexander and nickname them Xander.

of the two prefer Myles.

JBPmum · 06/06/2025 09:59

I really don't like it at all, but it would be a boring world if everyone chose names that were just to my taste. It's a perfectly reasonable name and probably better than Xander, which sounds like a nickname for Alexander. There was a Miles in my class at school and he was a nice kid. If you love it, go for it.

RedBeech · 06/06/2025 09:56

I like it. It's not a name I'd think of choosing but it's a good name, not too out there but not over-used either.

I love your serendipity stories about it OP.

Werp · 06/06/2025 09:56

I love them both (assuming alexander on birth certificate), they were both on my shortlist but vetoed by DH so I’m jealous!

I think choose when he’s here, see which one he feels more like after a week or so. But if you use one then I think you can’t use the other later or it sounds like you’re a Buffy fan getting Giles’ name wrong. (Your daughter isn’t Willow or Cordelia is she?)

BoudiccaRuled · 06/06/2025 09:52

I love Miles and Xander looks likely to be the next Oliver.

BeMintFatball · 06/06/2025 09:48

Nope. Miles is a surname. Also I know a Miles who looks Neanderthal so really put off the name.

RedToothBrush · 06/06/2025 09:47

KakulasSister · 06/06/2025 09:45

Is Xander a real name? Sounds like a shortened version of Alexander. I don't like it. Like Alexander.

This. Xander. Awful. Try hard. If you want to use Xander, use it as a nickname for Alexander.

KakulasSister · 06/06/2025 09:45

Is Xander a real name? Sounds like a shortened version of Alexander. I don't like it. Like Alexander.

KakulasSister · 06/06/2025 09:43

I like it cos I had a lovely boss called Myles (I know, different spelling)

RedToothBrush · 06/06/2025 09:42

Its an old name in my family which I like. It's better than the try hardness of Xander.

You aren't changing your baby's name. You havent met your baby yet. You might take one look at them and say one name just doesn't suit him. (Yes this happens).

I personally prefer the spelling Myles with a y instead of the i. Firstly because it helps stop with Kilometre. And secondly it just looks nicer. (It's spelt both ways in my family due to the time period and levels of illiteracy so I have no attachment to one version over another).

Original poster
Thelightblueduck · 06/06/2025 09:38

BootballJoy · 06/06/2025 09:35

I don't like the sound of Miles at all (or Giles, Niles etc) but that's just personal taste, it's a respectable name and quite trendy. I got a 'feeling' for both my DC's names when they were bumps and never wavered, they just felt right so maybe it's similar for you?

I personally much much prefer Xander. Maybe wait till baby's here and see which he looks like?

Yeah I think that’s what it’ll ultimately come down to. Our baby girl is called something completely different to what we thought because she didn’t “look” like the name we had picked (although I don’t think babies particularly look like any name 🤣)

OP posts:
Original poster
Thelightblueduck · 06/06/2025 09:36

RightOnTheEdge · 06/06/2025 09:34

I think it's a nice name.
My daughter has a friend called Miles.
Sometimes he gets called Milo which I think is a cute nickname.

yes I was thinking Milo as a family NN for when he’s younger - it’s very cutesy

OP posts:
SushiDisco · 06/06/2025 09:35

I like it! Especially with the backstory, it would be a nice story to tell him when he’s older😊

AutumnVi · 06/06/2025 09:35

I really don’t get it.
its a measurement and it’s a very dull name

BootballJoy · 06/06/2025 09:35

I don't like the sound of Miles at all (or Giles, Niles etc) but that's just personal taste, it's a respectable name and quite trendy. I got a 'feeling' for both my DC's names when they were bumps and never wavered, they just felt right so maybe it's similar for you?

I personally much much prefer Xander. Maybe wait till baby's here and see which he looks like?

RightOnTheEdge · 06/06/2025 09:34

I think it's a nice name.
My daughter has a friend called Miles.
Sometimes he gets called Milo which I think is a cute nickname.

nameobsessed · 06/06/2025 09:30

I much prefer it to Xander on its own but Alexander ‘Xander’ Miles sounds lovely, you could use both!