Eastern European Names

Mateusz

Polish, from Hebrew

"gift of God"

The Polish form of Matthew.

Matheiu

Matheiu is a French variant of Matthew, though less common than the standard French spelling Matthieu. The name derives from the Hebrew name Mattityahu, meaning 'gift of God' or 'gift of Yahweh.'…

Motka

Motka is a masculine name with an exotic, distinctive quality. Its origins are somewhat obscure, potentially drawing from Eastern European, Native American, or other cultural traditions. The name has…

Mavriki

Mavriki is a masculine name of Russian origin, derived from the ancient Roman name Mauritius, which means "dark-skinned" or "Moorish." In Russian tradition, it appears in historical contexts and…

Maurycy

Maurycy is the Polish variant of Maurice, a masculine name with ancient Roman roots. Derived from the Latin name Mauritius, meaning 'dark-skinned' or 'from Mauritania' (referring to the region in…

Moricz

Moricz is a masculine name of Hungarian origin, likely derived from the name Maurice or Moritz, which ultimately comes from the Latin name Mauritius, meaning 'dark-skinned' or 'Moorish.' This name…

Maury

Diminutive of Maurice

"dark skinned"

Old-man name, soft as a fraying gray cashmere cardigan, that would be even cuter for a girl.

Maksim

Maksim is a masculine name of Slavic origin, representing the Eastern European form of Maximus, derived from Latin meaning 'greatest' or 'largest.' Particularly popular in Russia, Ukraine, Belarus,…

Maksym

Maksym is a masculine name of Slavic origin, particularly popular in Ukraine, Poland, and other Eastern European countries. It is the Eastern European variant of Maximus, which comes from Latin…

Maksymilian

Polish, from Latin

"greatest"

The Polish form of Maximilian.

Makimus

Makimus appears to be a variant spelling of Maximus, a powerful masculine name with Latin origins meaning 'greatest' or 'largest.' This alternative spelling with a 'k' instead of 'x' creates a…

Melchior

Dutch from Hebrew

"city of the king; king of light"

The least used of the Three Wise Men's names, but a strong option for bold namers to consider. The exact origins of Melchior are unknown, but it is speculated that it derived from either the Hebrew…

Melor

Celtic

"iron man"

Melor is the name of a Breton saint who in legend was also a prince, suggesting he was the son of a Cornish king (Mylor is the Cornish variation of the name). Melor was said to have a foot and hand…

Mikhail

Russian variation of Michael

"who is like God"

One of the most familiar Russian names in the West, thanks to ballet great Mikhail Baryshnikov and state head Mikhail Gorbachev.

Miklós

Czech and Hungarian variation of Nicholas

Surprisingly, attached to the Greek Nikolaos rather than Michael.

Misha

Russian, diminutive of Mikhail

Brought into the American consciousness as the nickname of ballet great Mikhail Baryshnikov, it more recently took on a unisex air via TV and screen actress Mischa Barton. Could become the next Sasha.

Mischa

Russian, diminutive of Mikhail

Though the Mischa spelling is migrating toward the feminine side thanks to actress Mischa Barton, this Russian boys' short form still works for children of both sexes, as Mischa or Misha.

Moisei

Moisei is a masculine name of Russian and Eastern European origin, representing a Slavic form of Moses. The biblical name Moses derives from Egyptian roots meaning 'drawn out of the water,'…

Mosya

Mosya is a masculine name with Slavic origins, primarily used in Russian-speaking cultures. It functions as a diminutive or affectionate form of Moses (Moisey in Russian). The name Moses itself…

Mosze

Mosze is a masculine name that represents a Polish and Yiddish variation of Moses. The biblical Moses (Moshe in Hebrew) was the prophet who led the Israelites out of Egypt and received the Ten…