Millicent comes from the Germanic Amalaswinth, a combination of amal, work, and swinth, strength, usually rendered as "strong worker" or "strength through work"; the Normans brought it to England as Melisende. It was a fashionable Victorian name and offers the sweet nickname Millie. In the United States Millicent is a rare vintage choice; it peaked recently at number 1560 in 2021 and ranks number 1900 in 2025.