Myles

Myles is the slightly dressier spelling of Miles, a name whose etymology has argued with itself for centuries: possibly the Latin miles, soldier, possibly a Germanic root meaning merciful. The y-spelling carries a particular American history, most famously Miles Standish, the Plymouth Colony captain John Alden spoke for in Longfellow's poem, sometimes written Myles in period documents. It also belongs to the phenomenon that is Myles Garrett, the NFL defensive end. The spelling now sits around the top 99 for boys. The name reads as athletic, sharp-edged, a little old-world in its y, contemporary in its confidence, the kind of boy who takes a hit and gets up.