Updated October 2026
Across 16 pages
of 16
Invented name
"magnetic"
The name Magnethia was created for Winx Club , a children's TV series about villain-fighting fairies. Magnethia is the mother of Tecna, the fairy of technology.
Finnish, Irish variation of Mary
"sweet; drop of the sea, bitter"
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."
Hebrew
"weak, sick; dance"
In the Bible, Mahlah was one of five daughters of Zelophehad. The others were Noa, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah. Noa is popular, Tirzah is sometimes used, and Mahlah has a much better chance of modern…
Latin
"song for unaccompanied voices"
Madrigal might be a pretty and highly distinctive choice for a child of a musical family--or for the parent looking for a less conventional path to the nickname Maddie than Madeline or Madison .…
Irish
"little dog"
An unusual, energetic surname choice that would make a good Madison alternative. Madigan was a typical police detective series of the 1970s, starring Richard Widmark.
American invented name
Borne by Mickalene Thomas, an American artist primarily known for her photographs and paintings embellished with rhinestones and enamel.
German surname, Yiddish, meaning unknown
A sort of Maisie-Hazel hybrid, likely influenced by the hit TV show The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel . Actress Beverley Mitchell chose it for her daughter. One of the origins of the surname Maisel was…
"metal"
Metaria was created for Queen Metaria of the Sailor Moon franchise. Her name is derived from the word "metal" — all Sailor Moon villains have metal or mineral names.
Sanskrit flower name
Malti is an Indian floral name from the plant madhumalti — a tropical flowering vine that is known in English as the Rangoon creeper. In India, Madhu and Malti are often used as twin names or as a…
Greek
"doing something with soul, love, creativity, or devotion"
Meraki is one of those untranslatable words that only exist in a single language. It's the Greek concept of putting your whole heart into something. NPR says, "Meraki is often used to describe…
Madena is a feminine name of uncertain etymology, though it may be related to the Italian city of Modena or could be a variation of Madeline. The name has a melodic, flowing quality with its three…
Madia is a feminine name with diverse cultural origins. In some contexts, it's a variation of Madea or Medea from Greek mythology, though without the negative associations. In others, it derives from…
Hindi
"a bunch; bud of the mango flower"
Manjari is an Indian name not well-known in the US but popular in India. The literal meaning is a bunch or a collection, but can also refer to the flowers and vines of the mango. Taken together,…
Place-name, Portuguese
"wood"
Madeira is an off-beat place name, notably appearing on the map as an island off Morocco, famous for its Madeira wine. Also the name of a city in Ohio (named for John Madeira, a 19th century…
Elaboration of Maude, American
"little Maud"
This French-style name is, in fact, an American creation with only a handful of documented uses throughout history. Maudette combines the mini-name Maud — a medieval short form of Matilda, meaning…
Place-name
Martinique is a Caribbean island that’s part of the Lesser Antilles, and is a region of France. This could be a fresh way to honor a Martin or Martha.
Filipino combination of Maria + Michelle
"drop of the sea + who is like God"
Marichelle is a lyrical name found in the Philippines, where both its mother names — Maria and Michelle — are common choices themselves. The smush of Marichelle modernizes Maria and updates Michelle,…
Cornish, from English
"youth"
This rare sixth-century saint's name has a modern, merry feel.
Cornish place name
"unknown meaning"
With other Cornish names like Elowen and Jago catching people's attention, the mythical sounding Mithian might prove an unexpected and magical feeling choice. Traditionally called Mydhyan , Mithian…
English, diminutive of Araminta, invented hybrid name
Minta is an eighteenth century short form of a literary beauty still used in England today, but yet to be discovered by American baby namers. It has a fresh and dainty feel. Virtually unheard today,…