Girl Dog Names That Start With M

Sixties-style nickname which is also the name of a small biting insect, particularly prevalent in Scotland.

Midge

A dark, mystical choice, most often used for black cats, Midnight is a relatively new addition to the baby pool. It was used as a middle name by Nicole Richie and Joel Madden for their son in 2009, and then by social media star, Jasmine Chiswell in 2022 for her son's first name. 
 
The name first entered the US stats in 2005, and was given to around 20 babies since 2020.

Midnight

A highly unusual Dora name that may be a spin on the Japanese name Midori, meaning "green," or a combination of Mia "my" plus Dora "gift."

Midora

In Japan, color names are used to symbolize human qualities, and the green hues of Midori name are said to represent fame. While it is a unisex choice in its native Japan, Midori is predominantly used on girls.
 
Meaning "green" or "beautiful bird" depending on which kanji elements are used, the name has appeared in a number of animes, mangas, and games. Actress Midori Francis, violinist Midori Goto, and figure skater Midori Ito are notable bearers.

Midori

A sweet and simple nickname for Marie that could serve to freshen up the outdated full form.

The adorable and iconic bunny character Miffy was created in 1955 by Dutch artist Dick Bruna. Her Dutch name is Nijntje, a contraction of the Dutch word for "little bunny", konijntje.
 
Bruna searched for an international name for his character — something easy to pronounce in all languages. He and his English translator arrived at Miffy. According to the Miffy website, "It’s the kind of sound a bunny might make, but it has no special meaning."

Miffy

Charming French endearment, first used as a name by Goethe, that now makes an appealing choice -- though the proper feminine form is Mignonne. Note, though, that this is not actually used as a name in France, where Manon would be the closest choice. 
 Mignon is the leading character, a young Italian dancer, in Goethe's novel Wilhelm Meister's Apprenticeship, upon which an eponymous opera was based. Mignon Eberhart was a popular American mystery writer. 
 The name is also associated with the flower name Mignonette.

Mignon

An archipelago near the center of the Mediterranean, the name derives from the Greek word for honey.  Malta has been heard as a girl’s name in the past and was used as a character name by both Dickens and Murakami.

Malta

Mikka is a feminine name with Finnish and Scandinavian origins, though it can also be found as a variant spelling in other cultures. It's often considered a diminutive form of Michaela or Michelle, ultimately derived from the Hebrew name Michael, meaning 'who is like God?' In Finland, it may also be related to Mikko, the Finnish form of Michael. Mikka has a modern, crisp sound that appeals to parents looking for something slightly different yet familiar. While not among the most popular names in the United States or Europe, it has maintained a steady, if modest, presence in Scandinavian countries. The name's simple yet distinctive character gives it a contemporary feel while maintaining cultural connections.

Mikka

This charming name, popular in France and the Netherlands, has not traveled to the U.S. yet but would make a modern way to honor grandma Mary or Louise, or as a perfect short form of Mary Louise. Or, with the growing fashion for nickname names, it can stand perfect well on its own. One of several similar variations &mdash; Lou, Lilou, Louane &mdash; in vogue in Europe.

Malou

Milada

Trendy Spanish island makes for trendy girls' name. 

Mallorca

Irish Gaelic spelling of Molly, which derives from Mary.

Mallaidh

The name of the Lithuanian love diety is a unique way to get to the nickname Millie. Milda has also been seen as a diminutive for names such as Matilda and Mildred. It appeared on the US Top 1000 in 1886 and 1887.

Milda

Disney turned Maleficent into a name in 1959, when it was used for the "Mistress of All Evil" in the film Sleeping Beauty. Prior to that, maleficent was a word meaning "causing harm," the antonym of beneficent. Its similarities to the familiar name Millicent made it an apt choice for the iconic Disney villain.
 
American parents first used Maleficent as a baby name in 2015, the year following the premiere of the Disney movie of the same name, starring Angelina Jolie. It also appeared in the charts in 2020 and 2021 but seems to have fallen back under the radar since then.

Maleficent

Popular name in Japan in its own right, but also as a nickname for Miyako or Makiko. It appears in the visual novel Danganrompa, borne by the character Maki Harukawa. 
 
Succinct and simple, it can mean "truth, reality" or "hope", though other kanji combinations are possible. Some may also recognize it as the name of a type of sushi dish, in which the rice is wrapped in nori (dried seaweed). 
 
Maki might also be considered an anglicization of the Finnish name Mäki, meaning "hill", a nickname for the likes of Makayla, Mackenzie, Maverick, and Malika, and a Māori and Hawaiian form of Margaret (via Makaleka).

Maki

A melodic and glowing name, derived from Mapuche, the language of the Indigenous people of central Chile, Millaray means "golden flower". It ranked in the Chilean Top 100 in the 2010s and remains a familiar choice. Pronounced as mee-ya-rye, and not as mih-luh-ray as those unfamiliar with it might assume, Millaray is notably borne by actress and presenter Millaray Viera and footballer Millaray Cortés.

Millaray

Pretty and distinctive choice for poetry lovers. 

Millay

Both Maire and Mare have begun making inroads with parents seeking novel yet authentic ways of honoring an ancestral Mary. The Finnish variation derives from the word mairea, meaning "sweet."

Maire

Milou and her near-identical twin Malou are adorable names popular throughout Europe; they're contractions of Marie or Mary and Lou or Louise. The Malou spelling will probably be easier for English speakers to pronounce; Milou may be conflated with Milo.

 Fun fact: Milou is the French name of the dog Snowy in Tintin.