Unique Girl Names that Start With M

Marin

Latin

"of the sea"

Marin is a lovely county north of San Francisco, and a lovely baby name on the rise, one which sounds more refreshing than the more familiar Marina. As a place-name, Marin is pronounced with the…

Marion

English and French diminutive of Marie

"drop of the sea, bitter, or beloved"

An underused classic that has proved surprisingly unisex over the last few decades, being given to roughly the same number of baby girls and boys in the US from the 1970s to the 2000s. For a girl,…

Moira

Irish, variation of Mary

"bitter; beloved; drop of the sea"

Well-established Irish and Scottish name that has never really caught on across the pond. Remembered by an older generation as the beautiful red-haired ballerina in the film The Red Shoes , Moira…

Marta

Italian, Spanish, Scandinavian, Slavic

"lady"

Sharper and steelier than Martha, but with the same underused vintage appeal.

Minerva

Latin

"of the mind, intellect"

Minerva is the long-neglected name of the Roman goddess of wisdom and invention, the arts and martial strength, one of the mythology names for girls that might appeal to adventurous feminist parents.…

Mailani

Modern invented name

One of the many -lani names to be created in recent years, this one a variation of JWOWW's invention Meilani. The -lani name craze is thanks to the beautiful Hawaiian name Leilani, which has inspired…

Miabella

Combination of Mia and Bella

"my beautiful"

Two popular contemporary choices merged into one, this compound name with its hint of Italian flair was given to nearly 70 girls in the US and 3 in the UK. With Mia's entry into the US Top 10,…

Melia

Greek mythology name, diminutive of Amelia, or Hawaiian

"ash tree; honey; work; plumeria"

This is a rich, melodic shortening of the popular girls' name Amelia that can stand on its own. There are several figures in Greek myth named Melia, most notably a daughter of Oceanus. The Meliae are…

Manuela

Spanish, feminine variation of Emmanuel

"God is with us"

Manuela is one feminine form that's more energetic than the male original, and is worth considering if you're seeking an easily assimilated Spanish name. In the 1948 film The Pirate , set in the…

Mirabel

Latin

"wonderful"

Mirabel is one of those names that's not on the Top 1000 but ought to be, and undoubtedly will be soon following the release of Disney's 2021 Encanto . Mirabel is the film's quirky and highly…

Maleni

Maleni is a feminine name with multicultural origins. In Hawaiian, it's a variation of Malani, meaning 'buoyant' or 'heavenly,' while some sources connect it to Latin American origins as a derivative…

Maelys

French or Breton

"chief or prince"

Another feminine form of the old saint's name Mael. Spelled Maëlys, it is a very popular name in France today.

Mirabella

Italian variation of Mirabelle

"wonderful"

The short-lived magazine edited by former Vogue chief Grace Mirabella put this beautiful name off-limits for a while, but now it's perfectly fit to join the fashionable Bella pantheon. More…

Mahogany

Spanish

"rich, strong"

Dark, woody name that's brings to mind rich panelling, beautiful colors and luxury.

Maricela

Spanish, combination of Maria and Celia, Hebrew, Latin

"drop of the sea, bitter, or beloved + heaven"

A pretty and little-known Spanish smoosh name, combining Maria with Celia. As such, it may have a number of meanings. On one hand, it could simply be interpreted as meaning "Maria of the Heavens",…

Morrigan

Irish

"phantom queen"

The mythological Morrigan was the ancient goddess of war, often symbolized by a crow. Besides being a name, this is also used as a proper noun preceded by an article: the Morrigan, defined as a…

Maritza

Spanish diminutive of Maria

"drop of the sea, bitter, or beloved"

Used especially in Latin America, this would make a funky spin on Maria. The meaning of Maria is uncertain, but theories include "drop of the sea" (from Hebrew roots mar "drop" and yam "sea");…

Melisa

Melisa is a feminine name with roots in Greek mythology, derived from 'melissa' meaning 'honey bee' or 'honeysuckle.' This sweet and melodious name carries connotations of industriousness, community,…

Mariajose

Combination of Mary and Jose

"drop of the sea, bitter, or beloved + god increases"

An unconventional Spanish and Portuguese smoosh name made up of feminine Maria and masculine Jose. Maria ultimately derives from the Hebrew name Maryam/Mariam. The original meaning of Maryam is…

Minnie

Diminutive of Wilhelmina, German

"resolute protection"

Minnie was wildly popular at the turn of the last century — it was the fifth or sixth most popular name throughout the 1880s — but is completely obscure in the US today. Blame Mickey's girlfriend.…