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Millicent

Girl name · 61 babies recorded · 1974–2025

Millicent: 61 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to girls, peaking at 7 births in 2004.

Of Old German origin, Millicent derives from the elements *amal* (meaning "work") and *swinth* (meaning "strength"), giving it the lovely sense of "strong in work" or "industrious strength." It arrived in Britain via the Normans, who favoured the Old French form *Melisende*, which later softened into Millicent. The most famous bearer is Millicent Garrett Fawcett, the pioneering British suffragist who led the non-violent campaign for women's voting rights and has her statue in Parliament Square. Millicent Sowerby was a celebrated Edwardian-era children's book illustrator. You might notice a resemblance between Millicent and the name Melissa—both share the "honey" root via entirely different linguistic paths—but the two are not etymologically connected, despite sounding similar. The name saw peak popularity in early 20th-century Scotland, and its nickname Millie has enjoyed a sweet revival in recent years.