Updated June 16, 2014.
Meaning of Mia:
Mia is a shortened form of the name Maria, derived from a Hebrew name. Maria has been an exceptionally popular name throughout European countries and is a counterpart of the English name Mary. The meaning of Mary is uncertain, though some identify it as "sea of bitterness", "rebelliousness", and "wished for child".
It is very possible that the name was rooted in Egyptian culture, in which case the name may mean "beloved."
Popularity of Mia:
Though based on an eternal classic name, Mia might be considered more of a contemporary baby name. The Social Security Administration keeps records of the top 1000 baby names every year which date back to 1880, but Mia did not appear on the charts until 1964. My guess would be that actress Mia Farrow's rising stardom contributed to the rising popularity of the name.
It really was not a common given name at all during the 20th century. However, something happened with the millennium change, and Mia began becoming a more notable name. In 2000, Mia cracked into the Top 100 Baby Names, by 2002 the Top 50 Names, then in 2009 Mia landed in the top 10 and has remained there since.
Because of only recently establishing as a more common baby name, Mia does not rank within the Top 100 Names of the Past Century.
Pronunciation:
Mia is a 2 syllable name with emphasis on the first syllable, MEE-ah.
Middle Names for:
I'd wager a bet that currently the most popular middle name combinations with Mia are Mia Grace and Mia Rose.
However, if you are looking for more diverse options, you might consider one of the following:
- Mia Catherine
- Mia Claire
- Mia Dove
- Mia Isabella
- Mia Joy
- Mia Kate
- Mia Margaret
- Mia Pearl
- Mia Raine
- Mia Sage
- Mia Sarah
Share your suggestions for middle names at the "Write a Review" link below.
Nicknames:
Mia is such a short name, that in may not lend itself to a nickname. Perhaps, Mimi might work. It is more likely that Mia may be used for a nickname for other names, such as Amelia, Camilla, Hermia, Maria, Mary, and Miriam.
Sibling Name Suggestions:
Mia is one of those names that goes well with many different types of sibling names. You could consider other names that begin with the letter "M", shorter names, or more contemporary names. You might consider:
- For girls: Anna, Ava, Bella, Chloe, Ella, Lila, Lily, Margaret, Makenna, Tessa, Zoe
- For boys: Dylan, Jacob, Jack, Liam, Matthew, Max, Noah, Michael, Stephen, Ryan
Baby Name Trends:
As mentioned above, Mia could be classified as a contemporary baby name as it only has come into common use in the past 50 years. Additionally, there seems to be a popular name trend to choose feminine sounding names. Like Mia, many of these names end in the "ee-ah" sound: Aaliyah, Amelia, Leah, Olivia, Sophia, and Victoria.
Famous People Named Mia:
- Mia Hamm, Wusa Professional Soccer Player
- Mia Farrow, Actress
- Mia Sara, Actress
- Mia Anderson, 20th Century Writer
- Mia Davis, Actress
- Mia Kirshner, Actress
- Mia Molvray, Writer
- Mia St. John, Pioneer In Female Boxing
- Mia Tyler, Actress
Celebrity Babies Named:
- Mia Loren Ziering (2011), daughter of Ian Ziering
- Mia Tabitha Shanks (2004), daughter of Michael Shanks and Lexa Doig
- Mia Honey Threapleton (2000), daughter of Kate Winslet
- Mia Quinn (1998), daughter of Aidan Quinn and Elizabeth Bracco
- Mia Mantegna (1987), daughter of Joe Mantegna
- Mia Abagale Tyler (1978), daughter of Steven Tyler
Sources:
Behind the Name
Baby Name Wizard Voyager
Social Security Popular Names