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M

56 names

Names starting
with M.

35 girls · 20 boys

M is a nasal consonant linked to some of the oldest recorded names across cultures. Our database lists 56 given names that begin with it — 35 for girls and 20 for boys.

At the top of each list, Mary (#133 in 2023) leads the girls while Michael (#16) leads the boys.

The most-used M names on this page draw from Hebrew, Greek, Latin traditions, which is roughly the cultural footprint you'd expect from U.S. naming patterns.

M skews feminine in our data: there are about 1.8× more girl names starting with M than boy names.

Girl names

Starting with M.

Bitter; beloved; wished-for child

From Greek μαργαρίτης (margarítēs), "pearl," itself borrowed from an older Iranian source

The Latin form of Mary, ultimately from Hebrew מִרְיָם (Miryam)

Girl ·Old English

From Old English mild ('gentle') + thryth ('strength'); 'gentle strength'

Welsh diminutive of Margaret, from Greek margaritēs meaning 'pearl'

An English surname meaning "son of Maud" (Maud being a medieval short form of Matilda)

A 20th-century English blend of Mary (Hebrew Miriam) and the diminutive suffix -lyn

Mine; bitter, beloved

From μέλας (melas), "dark, black

French feminine of Michel (Michael), from Hebrew Mikhael meaning 'who is like God?' — a rhetorical question honoring the archangel Michael

Of Magdala; tower

Originally a pet form of Mary, by way of medieval Moll and Mally

A diminutive of Wilhelmina (feminine of William, 'resolute protector') or of Mary

Girl ·Scottish Gaelic

Anglicized from Mac Coinnich, "son of Coinneach" — Coinneach itself meaning "handsome, comely

Anglicized form of Irish Máirín, a diminutive of Máire — the Irish form of Mary (Hebrew Miriam, of uncertain meaning, possibly 'sea of bitterness' or 'wished-for child')

A medieval form of Amabel, from Latin amabilis meaning 'lovable'

Girl ·Ancient Greek

From the English word for the myrtle plant, ultimately from Greek myrtos

A diminutive of Martha (Aramaic 'lady, mistress') or of Matilda (Germanic 'mighty in battle')

A 20th-century German blend of Maria + Magdalene — both names of women in the New Testament

Girl ·Ancient Greek

A diminutive of Margaret, from Greek margaritēs meaning 'pearl'

Girl ·Sanskrit

Illusion; water; good mother

From מִרְיָם (Miryam), the elder sister of Moses, who watched over his basket on the Nile and later led the women of Israel in song

From Latin mirandus meaning 'admirable' or 'wonderful'

A short form of Mary or of May (the month, from Latin Maia, the Roman fertility goddess)

An English spelling variant of Maria, ultimately from Hebrew Miriam — of disputed meaning, traditionally interpreted as 'wished-for child' or 'sea of bitterness'

A modern American spelling of Madeline, ultimately from Magdalene — meaning 'of Magdala', a town on the Sea of Galilee

Girl ·Ancient Greek

From Greek melōidia — melos ('song') + aoidē ('singing'); 'a tune' or 'song'

A modern American respelling of Michaela, feminine of Michael — from Hebrew Mikhael meaning 'who is like God?'

A Latinate blend of Maria and Anne, or alternatively the feminine of Marianus (relating to the Roman gens Marius)

Girl ·Hawaiian

The Hawaiian form of Mary

Mariam مَرْيَم

"Beloved; exalted

Maryam مَرْيَم

Girl ·Arabic (Hebrew origin)

The Virgin Mary, mother of Jesus — the only woman mentioned by name in the Qur'an (34 times)

Malak مَلَاك

Manel مَنَال

"What one attains, accomplishment, gift

Boy names

Starting with M.

Who is like God? A rhetorical name honoring the archangel

Stoneworker; one who works with stone

From Latin Mārtīnus, "of Mars" — the Roman war god

From the Old Welsh name Merfyn — possibly mer ('marrow' or 'eminence') + myn ('hill') or ('great')

A Roman praenomen — one of the most common male names of the Republic — probably dedicated to Mars, the god of war

A short form of Michael, from Hebrew Mikhael meaning 'who is like God?' — a rhetorical name honoring the archangel

Spanish and Portuguese short form of Emmanuel, from Hebrew Immanu El meaning 'God is with us' — a messianic title from the Book of Isaiah applied to Jesus in the New Testament

Spanish and Portuguese form of Michael, from Hebrew Mikhael meaning 'who is like God?' — a rhetorical question honoring the archangel

A medieval English surname meaning either 'big' (from Old English micel) or 'one named Michael' (from Hebrew Mikhael, 'who is like God?')

A spelling variant of Michael, from Hebrew Mikhael meaning 'who is like God?' — a rhetorical question honoring the archangel

Italian and Spanish form of Marius, an ancient Roman family name of disputed origin — possibly from Mars, the Roman god of war, or from Latin mas/maris meaning 'male'

French and Catalan form of Mark, from the Roman family name Marcus — most likely from Mars, the Roman god of war

Soldier; merciful

Malik مَالِك

"King, sovereign, owner

Muhammad مُحَمَّد

"The praised one

Mohamed مُحَمَّد

"The praised one, worthy of praise

Mustafa مُصْطَفَى

"The chosen one, the selected

Musa مُوسَى

"Drawn out of the water

Mehdi مَهْدِي

"Rightly guided by God