What does Vera mean?
From the Slavic, “faith,” and echoing the Latin verus, “true.”
What does Milena mean?
Milena comes from the Slavic mil, “gracious,” “dear” or “loving.”
Vera vs Milena
Which is more popular?
Vera is more popular than Milena today: about 1,482 US babies were given the name Vera in 2025, compared with 271 named Milena.
| Vera | Milena | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Faith; true | Gracious, dear |
| Origin | Slavic | Slavic |
| Gender | Girl | Girl |
| Pronunciation | VEER-uh | mee-LEH-nah |
| Syllables | 2 | 3 |
| First appeared | 1880 | 1918 |
| Peak year | 1918 (3,923) | 2019 (428) |
| In 2025 | 1,482 | 271 |
| Trend | Rising | Rising |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Vera
Milena
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Vera | Milena |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 8,040 | 2,083 |
| 2010s | 9,052 | 3,218 |
| 2000s | 1,612 | 1,351 |
| 1990s | 869 | 457 |
| 1980s | 1,311 | 239 |
| 1970s | 2,258 | 231 |
| 1960s | 6,032 | 94 |
| 1950s | 11,041 | 39 |
| 1940s | 12,189 | 26 |
| 1930s | 18,023 | 0 |
| 1920s | 32,541 | 6 |
| 1910s | 28,289 | 5 |
| 1900s | 10,457 | 0 |
| 1890s | 6,377 | 0 |
| 1880s | 1,365 | 0 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Vera or Milena more popular?
Vera is more popular than Milena today: about 1,482 US babies were given the name Vera in 2025, compared with 271 named Milena.
What is the difference between Vera and Milena?
Vera means Faith; true (Slavic origin), while Milena means Gracious, dear (Slavic origin).
Which name is older, Vera or Milena?
In US records, Vera first appears in 1880 and Milena in 1918, so Vera has the longer recorded history.