Milan

Milan is one of those “twofer” names in that you get two etymologies out of a single name. For one, Milan is a place name referring to one of the largest cities in Italy. Originally settled by Celtic tribes centuries before Christ, Milan was known as Mediolanum which is a Latin name thought to be derived from ancient Celtic language elements, essentially meaning a settlement located in the “middle of a plain”. This would make sense as Milan is situated in the plains of the Lombardy region of Italy. Other sources suggest that the name is ultimately derived from a Celtic word denoting a sanctuary or religious center for the particular Celtic tribes who inhabited the ancient area. The Romans would conquer the Celtic settlement in the 3rd century B.C. and Mediolanum eventually became the capital of the Western Roman Empire (with Nicomedia representing the East). The Germanic Visigoths arrived in the early 5th century followed by the Huns a few decades later. The Germanic Ostrogoths sacked Milan during the Gothic Wars in the 6th century and the Lombards finally moved in during the latter half of the 6th century (also a Germanic tribe from which the region of Lombardy takes its name). When the Franks (another Germanic tribe) conquered the city in the 8th century, Milan became part of the Holy Roman Empire under Charlemagne. At some point, the Spaniards and then the Austrian’s took control before the city was finally annexed to the Kingdom of Italy in the 19th century. Strategically placed in the North of Italy, Milan is the gateway to the rest of the peninsula. It’s no wonder scores of tribes and nations fought for its possession. Aside from the clear association with the prominent Italian city, Milan is also a name of Slavic origin. The Slavic element “mil” means “gracious, dear”. Interestingly, Milan is considered a female name among Americans, but as a masculine name it is a top choice in Belgium, the Netherlands, and Hungary. From a Slavic perspective, at least, Milan is all male. In fact, they would probably scratch their heads upon meeting a woman named Milan.