[name_u]Milan[/name_u] is a male name of south Slavic origin (Serbian (e.g. [name_u]Milan[/name_u] the [name_m]King[/name_m] of Serbia (1882–1889)), Croatian, Slovenian). At the beginning of the 20th century this name started to be used by Czechs and Slovaks (i.e. west Slavic nations who lived together with the above mentioned ones in the Austrian Empire). During the 20th century this name has almost replaced the ancient Miloslav (which has the same meaning) in the Czechlands and Slovakia. Nowadays the name [name_u]Milan[/name_u] is widespread in Serbia, Croatia, Slovenia, the Czech Republic (more than 2% of men are named [name_u]Milan[/name_u]) and Slovakia. It has no connection with the Latin name Aemilius etc. (which is [name_m]Emil[/name_m] in Slavic languages) or even the Italian city [name_u]Milan[/name_u] (whose name is derived from its Latin name Mediolanum (which means the town in the middle of plain)). Its only correct female form is [name_f]Milana[/name_f] (or [name_f]Milena[/name_f]). It is not only a custom, but it relates with the creation of words in Slavic languages. The female names have the extension ‘a’ ([name_u]Milan[/name_u] - [name_f]Milana[/name_f], Miloslav - Miloslava, [name_u]Jan[/name_u] - [name_f]Jana[/name_f] …). Compare that with the formation of Latin names ([name_m]Julius[/name_m] - [name_f]Julia[/name_f], [name_m]Gaius[/name_m] - [name_f]Gaia[/name_f], [name_m]Octavius[/name_m] - [name_f]Octavia[/name_f], …). The grammar of Slavic languages is complicated and very sensitive to genders, declension and conjugation (and it’s performed just by extensions). That in the recent times the name [name_u]Milan[/name_u] is used too for girls in the US, cannot change this fact (and for Europeans it is not imaginable to name their baby after the city). Please, use only the correct female version for girls, i.e. [name_f]Milana[/name_f] (and you can pronounce it as you want)! But the correct Slavic pronunciation is Mi-lan (Mi-la-na) with ‘i’ as ‘i’ in the word nick and ‘a’ as ‘u’ in the word bus, i.e. all syllables shortly.
Unfortunately, I have a feeling that most parents who choose [name_u]Milan[/name_u] are doing so because it’s a trendy place name (eg. a glamorous fashion capital in [name_f]Italy[/name_f]). Most people - unless they are from a Slavic background - wouldn’t know about the history of the name and sadly wouldn’t care. They like the name and they’ll use it for either gender. Some people don’t give a hoot about the etymology of names and that’s why “unisex” names exist and why the hottest naming trend is “traditional boys names on girls”. Thanks for posting your interesting facts regarding [name_u]Milan[/name_u].
If name is used on both sex equally, then it’s unisex. If you don’t like it, name your son [name_u]Andrea[/name_u]. It’s male name in [name_f]Italy[/name_f], used on boys. Ibet you will object.
This is the sixth time you’ve posted this rant today…
Did you create this account simply for this purpose?
According to the Czech law:
it is not permitted to register a name maimed, diminutive or homely;
it is not permitted to register a male name as female, and vice versa;
it is not permitted to register an impersonal name (ie representing things, days, cities, etc.) or a name that is used as a surname;
you can select only a name documented, existing, and therefore it is not permitted to invent a new name.
The name [name_u]Milan[/name_u] is on the official list mentioned as a male name and therefore it is impossible to give this name to a girl in the Czech Republic. Any such attempt would be rejected by the register office.
In the Czech language, no name can be unisex. Each name has to be either feminine or masculine. As there is apparent from the comments, it is for all people from the countries of its origin as obvious as ‘at day is light and at night is dark’.
I do not want to polemize about advantages/disadvantages of possibility to give the names absolutely freely in the US. But I think, if you will decide to give to your child the existing name, you should respect its origin. I.e. if this name will be used in the Slavic meaning ‘dear/beloved … person’ than you must respect its gender. Using this name after Italian town in the meaning ‘a town in the middle of plain’ seems to me absolutely crazy.
Thank you, [name_u]Mischa[/name_u].
I am pleased that there is someone with an intelligent opinion and not just with the statement ‘it is used for both boys and girls, therefore this name is unisex’. I agree that the name should sound well to parents, but there are thousands of fully correct names. So they can perhaps choose one. Giving names freely is destroying Europe’s cultural heritage. Moreover, when such a woman [name_u]Milan[/name_u] arrives in Europe (at least in all countries east of Germany), she will be automatically considered a man. And if she says that her name is after the city, she will be considered a fool. Well, I’m glad that I live in the country where such absurd giving names is prohibited and where the vast majority of the local population still consider a stupidity also giving nontraditional names, ie not Slavic, [name_m]German[/name_m], ,[name_m]Christian[/name_m]’ (Latin, Greek, Hebrew) origin.
I understand you have strong feelings about this, but you need to chill. This is a baby naming website where we discuss all sorts of names. Obviously, [name_u]Milan[/name_u] is a boys name to you. I feel the same way. But calling people stupid for using non traditional or unisex names is rude and unnecessary.
Definitely I do not want to be rude. I would just like to understand why people give names to their children about whose origin they do not know anything and have not any personal relation to it. Sorry, but in European countries, this is really not normal and it is regarded mostly negative. Originally I only wanted to contribute with remark to this name about its origin and usage. But the reactions, that these facts are not necessary to respect, made me really a little angry. But mainly, a lot of information on various websites about name [name_u]Milan[/name_u] is completely meaningless. This name is really not of Russian origin, has nothing to do with the Scottish surname [name_u]MacMillan[/name_u] or the Italian name [name_m]Emilio[/name_m], etc. Well, I see there is no point to occupy more with this topic. I’m going to deal with something more useful. All the best, [name_u]Milan[/name_u].
I know one person named [name_u]Milan[/name_u]…a 2 year old girl.
I wouldn’t call these people stupid, to say first. But, actually, I am with you in this situation. I am of Slavic background and, honestly, [name_u]Milan[/name_u] on a girl makes me cringe. There are [name_f]Milana[/name_f], [name_f]Melania[/name_f] and [name_f]Milena[/name_f] for girls; [name_u]Milan[/name_u] is for boy, like [name_f]Shakira[/name_f]'s son. But I think we all have said enough on this thread, clarifying the certain gender of a newly popular name is sometimes an issue on Nameberry.
OK. I see that my arguments are not strong enough to convince you that [name_u]Milan[/name_u] is a male name (regardless that in the US it has begun to be given to girls in recent years). So I accept this:
[name_u]Milan[/name_u] is the second-largest city in [name_f]Italy[/name_f] and the capital of Lombardy. Name of the city is derived from its Latin name Mediolanum which means ‘in the middle of the plain’.
In the US, [name_u]Milan[/name_u] is a recently invented unisex name inspired by the city of [name_u]Milan[/name_u].
In Europe, [name_u]Milan[/name_u] is a strictly male name of South Slavic origin. Its meaning is ‘dear, beloved’. [name_u]Milan[/name_u] is a traditional and wide-spread name in Serbia, Croatia, Slovenia, the Czechlands and Slovakia. Its only correct female form is [name_f]Milana[/name_f] or [name_f]Milena[/name_f].
I agree with [name_u]Mischa[/name_u]'s view on this. And I think you should bear in mind that just because a name is used for both boys and girls in one country, it doesn’t necessarily make that name universally unisex. [name_u]Rory[/name_u] is a prime example: in the UK, [name_f]Ireland[/name_f] and most other English-speaking countries, it’s almost exclusively male, but in the US it seems to be 50/50. Does that make [name_u]Rory[/name_u] unisex in the UK? No. This is an American website so viewpoints are naturally going to be different. And most of us seasoned users realise the database isn’t always accurate- just grin & bear it and take things with a pinch of salt 
I see [name_u]Milan[/name_u] as a male name but I definitely disagree with how you are representing those of a different opinion. There’s no need to call names or insult them because you have your (strong) opinion. Unisex names are a thing that some people enjoy, and if you don’t, then don’t use them for your offspring and leave it at that. Simple. People get far too snobby over this topic, and it’s a pet peeve of mine.