Girl Dog Names That Start With M

Marcia is an ancient Roman name which derives from Mars, the god of war. It was used by Dante in the Inferno and later by Thomas Hardy and others.
 Marcia enjoyed a brief run of popularity in the mid-twentieth century--it was a Top 100 name from 1943 to 1955-- then was replaced by Marcy and Marci. Now all three are in limbo, replaced by the newer Marley or the more vintage Marcella. An alternate spelling of Marcia is Marsha. A strong association is with Marcia, Marcia, Marcia of The Brady Bunch.

Marcia

Marcy is about as hip as bobby sox and saddle shoes – which is to say, it's probably due a revival in the not-too-distant future! It was a typical Peanuts character name, which peaked in the seventies, but is starting to attract attention again across the pond, where soundalikes like Macy, Marnie, Maisy, Darcy and Lacey are already popular.

Marcy

Marietta would make for a classy and uncommon long form for cool nickname Etta.

 The meaning of Maria is uncertain, but theories include "drop of the sea" (from Hebrew roots mar "drop" and yam "sea"); "bitter" (from Hebrew marah "bitterness"); and "beloved" (from the Egyptian root mr).

Marietta

If Sam can make it as a girl's name, why not Max? Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg's eldest daughter Maxima goes by Max, but you could also use it as a short form for Maxine, Maximilienne or even Margaux.

Meena

A new favorite of the bohemian set, brought to light by actress Monet Mazur, daughter of the artist who designed the Rolling Stones' mouth logo. 

Monet

Traditionally a Scottish surname, referring to a barren heath, a bare promontory, or headland, Melrose could also be viewed as a mashup of Melanie, Melissa and Rose, as in the case of model and designer, Melrose Bickerstaff, born Melissa. 
 
The '90s soap opera Melrose Place might once have given it a melodramatic vibe, but the association is fading, leaving Melrose a whimsy yet preppy choice, that could appeal to fans of Primrose and Marigold.
 
Chosen by actress Melinda Shankar for her daughter in 2026, if you do view Melrose as a compound choice, it could have the meanings "honey rose" from Melissa or Melina and "dark rose" from Melanie

Melrose

Seems unfamiliar, till you realize everyone will just hear it as Molly. In Wales, Mali is a Top 100 name.

Mali

Masa is a feminine name with multicultural origins and meanings. In Japanese, Masa (政) can mean 'righteous government' or 'becoming' depending on the kanji characters used. In Arabic, Masa (مسا) means 'evening' or 'twilight,' evoking a peaceful time of day. The name also appears in Swahili and some Eastern European languages with various meanings. This short, melodic name travels well across cultures due to its simple pronunciation and spelling. Masa has remained relatively uncommon in Western countries but has seen some usage in multicultural communities. Its brevity and softness give it a gentle quality, while its cross-cultural presence makes it accessible worldwide. For parents seeking a simple yet meaningful international name, Masa offers versatility and subtle beauty.

Masa

This Maori name, often heard in New Zealand, is an attractive, evocative choice for lovers of the ocean made famous – perhaps too famous – by the Disney heroine. Moana was also an alternate name for the heroine Ofelia in Pan's Labyrinth. Moana may also be a color name for a deep ocean blue ("lanu moana"). Moana and other <a href="https://nameberry.com/blog/disney-princess-names">Disney Princess Names</a> are the subject of a featured blog.

Moana

Mesa is both the term for a flat-topped mountain, derived from the Spanish word for "table", and the Thai variation of April.

Mesa

Once a poetic Celtic name, that of the angel who governs the month of June, Muriel has for a time, become the mom or grandma of TV sitcoms. A Top 200 name from 1912 to 1933, Muriel might just be due for a comeback, fitting as it does with the likes of Margot, Mabel, Marjorie, and Marilyn. 
 
Traditionally written as Muirgel in Old Irish, it was also common in Medieval England (often in the form of Merial) and while it did see a decline after the Norman Conquest, it didn't disappear completely. The Muriel form remained familiar in Scotland and was eventually brought back to England in the 1850s, following its appearance in Dinah Craik's novel, John Halifax, Gentleman.

Muriel has further literary cred via Edinburgh-born author Muriel Spark, author of The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie and also appears as a character in l. M. Montgomery's Anne of Green Gables, in George Orwell's Animal Farm, and in Anne Tyler's The Accidental Tourist.
 
Ultimately derived from the Old Irish elements muir and gel, Muriel is an water-inspired choice meaning "sea bright" or "bright sea". Distinctive in sound (MYURE-ee-uhl in English; MUE-RHYEL in French), Muriel was given to 50 girls in the US in a recent count: the highest number recorded since the 80s!

Muriel

Mavi is both a gender-neutral Turkish name with a colorful meaning and a Spanish short form of the double name, Maria Victoria. Also the name of a jeans company, it would be pronounced as MAH-vee in Turkish and as either MA-bee or MA-vee in Spanish, depending on your location.
 
Mavi has also been gaining attention in the US, possibly among Spanish speaking families but potentially also as a playful spin on the popular Maeve, in the style of Novi, Jovie, and Navy. In this case, it may well be said as MAY-vee.

Mavi

One of those pan-European nickname names much more familiar in Scandinavia and Eastern Europe than in the US, though related name Mina is making a comeback here. Light and bright, it could be an alternative to Mila, Minnie, or Millie. 

Minna

Truncated form of Marylouise.

 As two separate words, Mary Lou has popped up a number of times, as the title, for example, of two early feature films. There's also a Nickelodeon actress named Mary Lou Kolbenschlag who goes by just Mary Lou.

 The original meaning of Mary is uncertain, but theories include "drop of the sea" (from Hebrew roots mar "drop" and yam "sea"); "bitter" (from Hebrew marah "bitterness"); and "beloved" (from the Egyptian root mr).

Marylou

Men may be from Mars as the saying goes, and the name may derive from the Latin maris meaning male, but soul singer Erykah Badu and Workaholics star Blake Anderson have given it potential as a unisex name after they both used it for their daughters. 
 
Ticking the boxes as a mythological name and as a space-related choice, Mars first appeared in the US stats for girls in 2016. Chosen for 36 girls in 2023, it has been quietly gaining more attention, though it does remain 4 times more popular for boys at last count.
 
Connected to the month of March and to one of the brightest objects in the sky - The Red Planet - Mars could fit in with the likes of Mae and Winter, Luna and Nova, Juno and Freya, Sloane and Quinn.

Mars

This pretty, international feminization of Matthew was chosen by Mira Sorvino for her daughter, Mattea Angel. 

As the Spanish Mateo and the Italian Matteo become more popular for baby boys throughout Europe, the English-speaking world, and the Americas, Mattea is sure to get wider recognition. And as Theo and Thea have become fashionable names, Teo and Tea are rising too.

Mattea

Like Penn Jillette, you can have your own little brash babe. 

Moxie

A name made famous by Marisas Berenson and Tomei, never became as saturated as its cousin Melissa, so still a feasible choice. Marisa is one of those Spanish and <a href="https://nameberry.com/baby-names/505/italian-names-for-girls">Italian names for girls</a> that sounds at once unusual and familiar, which makes it truly an international choice.

 The meaning of Maria is uncertain, but theories include "drop of the sea" (from Hebrew roots mar "drop" and yam "sea"); "bitter" (from Hebrew marah "bitterness"); and "beloved" (from the Egyptian root mr).

Marisa

The Islamic prophet Muhammad was born in the city of Mecca, now known as the holiest city in Islam. Officially called Makkah al-Mukarramah, or Makkah, it is located in modern-day Saudi Arabia. Millions of Muslims from across the world make a pilgrimage there each year, while Non-Muslims are understandably not allowed inside the city.
 
The etymology of Mecca is uncertain, but it most likely derived from an Old South Arabian root meaning "temple." In the English speaking world, it has also come to be used as a byword for any place that draws a large number of people who deem it important in some way, which has led to some Muslims rejecting the Mecca spelling.
 
As a given name, Mecca first appeared on the baby name charts in 1952 but was most popular in the 1990s, particularly among baby girls. In 2015, however, it became more commonly used as a masculine name and is now given to twice as many boys as girls. Nevertheless, 56 girls received the name in 2023, meaning it is still very much in use.
 
Author Mecca Jamilah Sullivan is a notable bearer.