Choosing a name for your baby girl is one of the most meaningful parts of preparing for her arrival. If you’re drawn to the letter M, you’ll find soft, classic names alongside bolder, more modern choices.

Each of these M girl names includes a meaning or origin to help you get a better feel for your favorites. As you make a shortlist, try saying each name with your last name and thinking about the nicknames you might use.

Girl Names That Start With M

The names are sorted into categories so you can jump to the styles that interest you most.

10 Popular Girl Names That Start With M

In 2025, Mia ranked No. 6 among U.S. girl names, making it the highest-ranking M name.¹

1. Madelyn — An English name meaning “woman from Magdala or high tower.”

2. Madison — This name means “son of Matthew” in English.

3. Maeve — This Irish name means “she who intoxicates.”

4. Margaret — Greek for “pearl.”

5. Maria — A Hebrew name meaning “drop of the sea,” “bitter,” or “beloved.”

6. Maya — A Sanskrit name meaning “illusion” or “magic.”

7. Melody — Greek for “song.”

8. Mia — A short form of Maria that also matches the Italian word for “mine.”

9. Mila — A Slavic name meaning “gracious.” It also means “dear” in Russian.

10. Millie — English for “gentle strength” and German for “strong in work.”

31 Cute Girl Names That Start With M

1. Mack — Scottish and Irish for “son of.”

2. Macy — This name means “hill” in English.

3. Maddie — An English nickname for Madeline or Madison.

4. Mandy — Latin for “she must be loved.”

5. Maple — An English nature name inspired by the maple tree.

6. Marleigh — English for “pleasant seaside meadow.”

7. Marlowe — This name means “driftwood” in English.

8. Marnie — English for “of the sea.”

9. Masha — Russian for “bitter.”

10. Mattie — This name means “gift of God” in Hebrew.

11. Max — Latin for “greatest.”

12. McKay — Gaelic for “fire.”

13. McKenna, Mackenna — An Irish name meaning “son of Kenneth.”

14. McKinley, Mackinley — This Scottish name means “son of a fair hero.”

15. McLaren — A Gaelic name meaning “son of Laurence.”

16. Meadow — English for “field of grass.”

17. Meena — This name means “blue semiprecious stone” or “bird” in Hindi.

18. Megan, Meghan — Welsh for “pearl.”

19. Mei — A Chinese name that can mean “beautiful” or “plum,” depending on the character used.

20. Mickey — This name means “who is like God” in Hebrew.

21. Miley — An American name that means “smiley” in English.

22. Mimi — A Hebrew name meaning “drop of the sea,” “bitter,” and “beloved.”

23. Mindy — English for “beautiful honey.”

24. Miracle — This name means “wonder” or “marvel” in Latin.

25. Misha — In Russian, this name means “who is like God.”

26. Missy — An English diminutive of Melissa, a Greek name meaning “honeybee.”

27. Mitzy — A German name meaning “bitter.”

28. Moe — This name means “delivered” in Hebrew.

29. Momo — Japanese for “peach.”

30. Moon — An English word name inspired by the moon.

31. Muffy — An English name meaning “playful” or “affectionate.”

24 Pretty Girl Names That Start With M

1. Mairi — This Scottish name means “bitter.”

2. Malaya — A Filipino name meaning “free.”

3. Manuela — This name means “God is with us” in Spanish.

4. Maribeth — English for “bitter” and “oath.”

5. Marina — Latin for “from the sea.”

6. Marisol — Spanish for “Mary of Solitude.”

7. Maritza — This name means “drop of the sea,” “bitter,” or “beloved” in Spanish.

8. Marjani — This name means “coral” in Arabic and Swahili.

9. Marlene — German for “woman of Magdala.”

10. Martina — A Latin name meaning “warlike.”

11. Mayuri — This name means “peahen” in Sanskrit.

12. Melania — Spanish and Greek for “black.”

13. Melinda — An English name meaning “beautiful honey.”

14. Michaela — Hebrew for “who is like God.”

15. Michelle — This name means “who is like God” in French.

16. Milana — A Slavic feminine form of Milan, meaning “gracious” or “dear.”

17. Minerva — Latin for “of the mind” or “intellect.”

18. Mirabel — This name means “wonderful” in Latin.

19. Mirabelle — This is a French name that means “marvelous.”

20. Moana — Māori for “deep ocean” and Samoan for “sea.”

21. Monica — A Latin name meaning “adviser.”

22. Morena — This Slovak name means “brown-haired.”

23. Muskaan — This name means “smile” in Hindi.

24. Myra — Greek for “sweet-smelling oil.”

23 Beautiful Girl Names That Start With M

1. Madonna — This name means “my lady” in Latin.

2. Magenta — Italian for “deep pink color.”

3. Maile — This is the Hawaiian name for vines used to make leis.

4. Maitreya — This name means “loving-kindness” in Sanskrit.

5. Majesty — Latin for “royal bearing.”

6. Makayla — A Hebrew name meaning “who is like God.”

7. Makana — This Hawaiian name means “gift.”

8. Marcella — Latin for “warlike.”

9. Maren — This name means “sea” in Latin.

10. Margarita — Spanish for “pearl” and Greek for “daisy.”

11. Mariah — A Hebrew name meaning “the Lord is my teacher.”

12. Marie — In French, this name means “drop of the sea,” “bitter,” or “beloved.”

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13. Mariposa — Spanish for “butterfly.”

14. Marissa — Hebrew for “drop of the sea” and Latin for “famous warrior.”

15. Marta — Italian, Spanish, and Slavic for “lady.”

16. Megara — This name means “great” in Greek.

17. Mika — This name means “beautiful fragrance” in Japanese.

18. Milagros — A Spanish name meaning “miracles.”

19. Mirabella — Italian for “wonderful.”

20. Miyeon — A Korean given name whose meaning varies according to the hanja used.

21. Miyuki — Japanese for “beautiful snow.”

22. Mohini — This name means “enchanting” or “charming” in Sanskrit.

23. Mya — A modern spelling variation of Maya or Mia.

10 Common Girl Names That Start With M

1. Mackenzie, McKenzie — A Scottish name meaning “son of Kenneth.”

2. Magnolia — This name means “Magnol’s flower” in French.

3. Margot — French for “pearl.”

4. Mariana — A Latin and Portuguese name meaning “related to the god Mars.”

5. Mary — Hebrew for “drop of the sea,” “bitter,” or “beloved.”

6. Melanie — This name means “black” or “dark” in Greek.

7. Milani — An Italian name meaning “from Milan.”

8. Molly — Hebrew for “bitter.”

9. Morgan — Welsh for “sea-born,” “sea-song,” or “sea-circle.”

10. Myla — Slavic for “gracious” and Russian for “dear.”

23 Badass Girl Names That Start With M

1. Maleficent — An English name meaning “causing harm.”

2. Malia — This Hawaiian name means “bitter.”

3. Malika — An Arabic name meaning “queen.”

4. Margeaux — French for “pearl.”

5. Mariska — This Hungarian name means “drop of the sea,” “bitter,” or “beloved.”

6. Mars — This Latin name is the god of war in Roman mythology.

7. Marvel — An English name meaning “to be filled with wonder or astonishment.”

8. Maxine — This name means “greatest” in Latin.

9. Mayim — Hebrew for “water.”

10. Mazie — This Scottish name means “pearl” or “bitter.”

11. Medusa — Greek for “protect” or “rule.”

12. Mercedes — A Spanish name meaning “gracious gifts” or “benefits.”

13. Merida — A pop-culture name associated with the heroine of Disney and Pixar’s Brave; its meaning is not established.

14. Micah — Hebrew for “who is like the Lord.”

15. Midnight — An English name meaning “12 o’clock at night.”

16. Monique — This name means “adviser” in French.

17. Monroe — A Scottish name meaning “the mouth of the Roe river.”

18. Morocco — A place name inspired by the North African country.

19. Morticia — A pop-culture name created for The Addams Family and inspired by the English word “mortician.”

20. Morwenna — Welsh for “maiden.”

21. Moxie — An English word associated with courage, energy, and determination.

22. Mulan — This Chinese name means “magnolia.”

23. Mystique — French for “air of mystery.”

19 Southern Girl Names That Start With M

1. Mabel — Latin for “lovable.”

2. Mae — This name means “bitter” in Hebrew or “pearl” in Greek.

3. Maggie — Greek for “pearl.”

4. Maisie — This name also means “pearl” in Greek and “bitter” in Hebrew.

5. Mamie — Hebrew for “drop of the sea,” “bitter,” or “beloved.”

6. Margie — English and Greek for “pearl.”

7. Marianne — This name means “drop of the sea,” “bitter,” or “beloved,” and “grace” in French.

8. Maribelle — An English name meaning “bitter” and “beautiful.”

9. Marigold — English for “golden flower.”

10. Mavis — This name means “songbird” in French.

11. Maybelle — This name means “lovable” in French and Hebrew.

12. Memphis — A place name derived from the ancient Egyptian Men-nefer, meaning “enduring and beautiful.”

13. Merle — This French name means “blackbird.”

14. Merritt — An English name meaning “boundary gate.”

15. Minnie — German for “resolute protection.”

16. Montana — This name means “mountainous” in Spanish.

17. Montgomery — French for “manpower.”

18. Murphy — An Irish name meaning “sea warrior.”

19. Myrtle — This is the name of a flower that’s a symbol of victory in Latin.

11 Biblical Girl Names That Start With M

1. Magdalene — This name means “woman from Magdala” in English.

2. Mahlah — Hebrew and Arabic for “tender.”

3. Mara — A Hebrew name meaning “bitter.”

4. Melea — This name means “complete” in Hebrew.

5. Merari — Hebrew for “bitter.”

6. Mercy — This name means “compassion” in English.

7. Merry — English for “lighthearted” or “happy.”

8. Michal — A Hebrew biblical name meaning “who is like God.”

9. Milcah — A Hebrew name meaning “queen.”

10. Miriam — Hebrew for “drop of the sea,” “bitter,” or “beloved.”

11. Moriah — This name means “the Lord is my teacher” in Hebrew.

15 Old-Fashioned Girl Names That Start With M

1. Madge — Greek for “pearl.”

2. Magda — This name means “woman from Magdala” in German.

3. Marcy — Latin for “warlike.”

4. Marjorie — A Scottish name meaning “pearl.”

5. Marlena — This name means “woman from Magdala” in German.

6. Martha — This name means “lady” in Aramaic.

7. Matilda — The meaning of this name is “battle mighty” in German.

8. Maude — English and French for “battle mighty.”

9. Melissa — Greek for “honeybee.”

10. Meryl — An Irish name meaning “of the bright sea.”

11. Midge — Greek for “pearl.”

12. Mildred — This name means “gentle strength” in English.

13. Millicent — The meaning of this name is “strong in work” in German.

14. Mona — This Irish name means “noble good.”

15. Muriel — An Irish name meaning “of the bright sea.”

15 Vintage Girl Names That Start With M

1. Madeline — An English name meaning “high tower” or “woman from Magdala.”

2. Mallory — This name means “unfortunate” in French.

3. Marceline — French for “little warrior.”

4. Marcia — In Latin, this name means “warlike.”

5. Marguerite — A French name meaning “pearl” or “daisy.”

6. Marion — French for “drop of the sea,” “bitter,” and “beloved.”

7. Marilyn — This name means “drop of the sea” and “lake” in English.

8. Mathilde — French for “battle mighty.”

9. Maura — An Irish name meaning “star of the sea.”

10. Maureen — This Irish name means “bitter” or “beloved.”

11. Meredith — Welsh for “great ruler.”

12. Mignonette — This name means “delicate” or “dainty” in French.

13. Miranda — A Latin name meaning “marvelous.”

14. Moira — The meaning of this Irish name is “bitter.”

15. Myrna — This Irish name means “festive.”

56 Unique Girl Names That Start With M

1. Maci — English for “hill.”

2. Madalynn — An English name meaning “woman from Magdala.”

3. Maddison — This name means “son of Maud” in English.

4. Madeleine — French for “woman from Magdala.”

5. Madelle — An English name meaning “woman from Magdala” or “high tower.”

6. Madigan — This Irish name means “little dog.”

7. Madina — An Arabic name meaning “city.”

8. Madrigal — A Latin name meaning “song for unaccompanied voices.”

9. Maia — Greek for “mother.”

10. Mairead — An Irish name meaning “pearl.”

11. Maisel — Hebrew for “gift of God.”

12. Maite — This name means “beloved” in Basque.

13. Malani — A Hawaiian name meaning “heavenly.”

14. Malaysia — Greek and Latin for “land of the Malays.”

15. Mahogany — A word name inspired by the reddish-brown wood.

16. Malinda — An English name meaning “beautiful honey.”

17. Margo — This name means “pearl” in French.

18. Marilda — German for “famous battle maiden.”

19. Maris — A Latin name meaning “of the sea.”

20. Marlon — Old French for “little hawk.”

21. Marquise — A French title for a noblewoman or the wife of a marquis.

22. Marsha — Latin for “warlike.”

23. Matisse — This name means “gift of God” in French.

24. Mattea — Italian for “gift of God.”

25. Mazikeen — A Hebrew name meaning “those who do harm.”

26. Meaghan — This name means “pearl” in Welsh.

27. Mecca — This is an Arabic name for the Islamic spiritual center.

28. Medea — A Greek name meaning “plans” or “counsel.”

29. Melba — An English name derived from opera singer Nellie Melba’s stage surname, which honored her native city of Melbourne.

30. Melisande — This name means “strong in work” in French.

31. Melora — A Greek name meaning “golden apple.”

32. Merci — This name means “thank you” or “mercy” in French.

33. Midori — Japanese for “green.”

34. Mikaela, Mikayla — A Swedish and Finnish name meaning “who is like God.”

35. Mikasa — This name means “three bamboo hats” in Japanese.

36. Milan — A Slavic name meaning “gracious” or “dear”; it is also the name of a city in Italy.

37. Mina — This Scottish name means “child of the red earth.”

38. Minahil — This name means “fountain” or “spring” in Urdu.

39. Ming — Chinese for “bright” or “clear.”

40. Minka — The meaning of this name is “resolute protection” in German.

41. Mira — This name means “admirable” in Latin and “ocean” in Sanskrit.

42. Mirren — A Scottish name meaning “drop of the sea,” “bitter,” or “beloved.”

43. Mitsue — Japanese for “bright river” or “bright wisdom.”

44. Monday — Old English for “moon’s day.”

45. Monet — This name means “He has heard” in French.

46. Montserrat — In Catalan, this name means “serrated mountain.”

47. Morfydd — Welsh for “great wealth.”

48. Morgana — This name means “sea circle” in Welsh.

49. Morrigan — An Irish name meaning “phantom queen.”

50. Morven — Gaelic for “child of the sea.”

51. Mosely — This name means “mouse clearing” in English.

52. Musetta — Latin for “little muse.”

53. Myah — A modern spelling variation of Maya or Mya.

54. Myfanwy — In Welsh, this name means “my lovely little one.”

55. Myka — A Hebrew name meaning “who is like the Lord.”

56. Myrline — This name means “blackbird” in French.

55 Rare Girl Names That Start With M

1. Madilyn — An English name meaning “high tower” or “woman from Magdala.”

2. Madisyn — English for “son of Matthew.”

3. Mafalda — Italian and Portuguese for “battle mighty.”

4. Mag — This name means “pearl” in Greek.

5. Magaly — Magaly means “pearl” in Greek and French.

6. Maidie — This name means “maiden” in English.

7. Mailah — German for “strength in battle.”

8. Maisee — An English name meaning “child of light.”

9. Maison — French for “house.”

10. Mako — A Japanese name meaning “sincerity.”

11. Makena — A Kikuyu name meaning “the happy one.”

12. Maleah — A Hawaiian name meaning “bitter.”

13. Malina — Polish and Bulgarian for “raspberry.”

14. Maliyah — Hawaiian for “bitter.”

15. Malvie — A Scottish name meaning “smooth-browed one.”

16. Marg — Greek for “pearl.”

17. Margey — This name is also Greek for “pearl.”

18. Margorie — This name means “pearl” in Middle English.

19. Marianna — Italian for “drop of the sea” and Polish for “bitter.”

20. Maribel — This name means “beloved” and “beautiful” in English.

21. Mariella — Italian and Dutch for “bitter.”

22. Marielle — Dutch and French for “bitter.”

23. Marlee — In English, this name means “pleasant seaside meadow.”

24. Marlin — This name means “sea fortress” in English.

25. Marlo — An English name meaning “from the hill by the lake.”

26. Marthy — This name means “lady” in Aramaic.

27. Marwa — An Arabic name meaning “white stone.”

28. Maryam — This Hebrew, Arabic, and Iranian name means “drop of the sea,” “bitter,” or “beloved.”

29. Maryn — Hebrew for “bitter.”

30. Matsuka — This name means “pine tree hill” in Japanese.

31. Maxime — Latin for “greatest.”

32. Mayah — This name means “close to God” in Hebrew.

33. Mayra — A Hebrew or Egyptian name meaning “drop of the sea,” “bitter,” or “beloved.”

34. Medard — French for “brave.”

35. Meera — This name means “prosperous” in Sanskrit.

36. Meilani — A Hawaiian name meaning “heavenly flower.”

37. Melany — Greek for “black” or “dark.”

38. Mele — A Hawaiian name meaning “song.”

39. Melia — Greek for “ash tree” and Hawaiian for “plumeria.”

40. Melina — This name means “little honey” in Greek.

41. Melodie — In Greek, this name means “song.”

42. Mer — French for “sea.”

43. Merewen — Old English for “sublime delight.”

44. Miah — This Swedish name means “mine” or “bitter.”

45. Micaiah — Hebrew for “who is like God.”

46. Mildrid — This name means “gentle strength” in English.

47. Milena — A Czech name meaning “love, warmth, and grace.”

48. Milla — A Norwegian and Hungarian name that means “young ceremonial attendant” or “gracious people.”

49. Milly — Latin for “young ceremonial attendant.”

50. Minnow — This name means “small fish” in English.

51. Mollie — Hebrew for “bitter.”

52. Morrissey — An Irish name meaning “descendant of Muiris.”

53. Mulberry — An English nature name inspired by the mulberry tree and its fruit.

54. Mylah — Latin and Old German for “soldier” or “merciful.”

55. Myrtia — A Greek name meaning “evergreen shrub.”

We hope a few of these M girl names made it onto your shortlist. Give yourself time to sit with your favorites and notice which names you keep coming back to.

For more ideas, visit our full baby names hub or continue with one of the related lists below.

• Cute Girl Names
• Beautiful Girl Names
• Badass Girl Names
• Southern Girl Names
• Biblical Girl Names
• Unique Girl Names
• Rare Girl Names

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