Dog Names That Start With M

Variant of Marilla

Popular dog name in the 17th century. It would still be cute today—on a dog, that is.

Variant of Marian

A bit grown-up for a tiny baby.

Cute but substantial short form, deriving from Maria. 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).

Cute and wearable.

This Croatian name is the diminutive of Mira and Mirela.

Fanciful feminissima name created by L. Frank Baum for a character in The Patchwork Girl of Oz.

Australian opera singer Nellie Melba—self-named for her hometown of Melbourne—inspired this now-dated name more associated today with a peach dessert and dietetic toast.

A nice meaning -- congruent with the recent vogue for names like Blessing -- helps offset this Hawaiian name's proximity to overused Makayla and McKenzie.

This version of Malia (as in Obama) peaked at Number 296 in 2009. Though Maliyah has lost ground since then, it's surprisingly enduring for a newly-fashion name whose pop culture connection was more than a decade ago.

The mixed-race heroine of one of Gertrude Stein's Three Lives searches for knowledge and power.

This name has been in the Chilean popularity charts for a while. Millaray makes a good choice for those looking for a feminine floral name that manages to look and sound fresh and modern.

More and more variations of Mackenzie are joining the Top 1000.

Although Malak can be used for both sexes, it's much more widely-used for girls in the US and throughout Europe, where it ranks on several popularity lists. More than 100 baby girls were named Malak in the US last year.

Made most familiar by Miah Persson, a famous Swedish opera singer.

A soft and sweet unisex Arabic name with an international sound. British broadcaster Mishal Husain is a notable bearer.

Variant of Maricela

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.