Nature Names for Girls

Mars

Roman

"god of war; male; red planet"

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…

Mawar

Bahasa and Urdu

"rose"

Mawar is another of the "rose" variants that is almost unheard of outside its home country (in this case, Indonesia), but which deserves consideration given its lilting sound.

Meadowlark

Bird name

Sure you could just use Meadow or Lark. But if you really want to go for it, Meadowlark is an option. Meadowlark Lemon, born Meadow Lemon, was a (male) American basketball player known as the "Clown…

Mercury

Roman

"messenger of the gods, quicksilver"

It's a car brand, a planet, and the messenger of the gods -- but it's questionable whether it works as a little girl's name.

Merrigan

Irish surname, related to the sea

A merry surname cousin of Kerrigan, could make a lively choice for a happy little girl.

Merrill

English

"sea-bright; pleasant hill"

Merrill, once fairly common for American boys back in the first half of the 20th-century, is now a rare choice, given to just 7 girls and 6 boys in a recent year. Alternative spelling Meryl is also…

Mesa

Spanish, Thai

"table; April"

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

Mignon

French

"delicate, dainty"

Charming French endearment, first used as a name by Goethe, that now makes an appealing choice -- though the proper feminine form is Mignonne. Note, though, that this is not actually used as a name…

Millaray

Mapuche, Chilean

"golden flower"

A melodic and glowing name, derived from Mapuche, the language of the Indigenous people of central Chile, Millaray means "golden flower". It ranked in the Chilean Top 100 in the 2010s and remains a…

Mimosa

Latin plant name

Adventurous parents are venturing deeper into the garden in search of fresh names, but remember that this also makes for an alcoholic brunch.

Misty

English

"mist"

The Play Misty for Me jokes will get old really fast.

Moana

Maori, Samoan

"deep ocean, sea"

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…

Morgana

Female version of Morgan, Welsh

"sea-circle"

Since Morgan is used as--or more--frequently for girls as for boys, this feminization has fallen by the wayside. It drew some brief attention via the pop singer Morgana King. The similar Morgiana…

Morwenna

Welsh

"maiden"

Morwenna is an ancient Cornish name now being revived in Wales, deriving from a Celtic word meaning "maiden", although the Mor- syllable means that it's often associated with the sea. It's been heard…

Urraca

Basque or Portuguese, 'magpie'

Urraca was the name of many infantas and queens of several medieval Iberian kingdoms (most notably Leon). Despite its royal roots, Urraca is one of the names best left to the history books.

Muguet

French

"lily"

One of the few French words/names not attractive to the American ear. It's pronounced moo-gay, not a winner on either syllable. Alternatives: Liliane, Lily, Lilou, Manon.

Mulberry

Nature name

As a name, it's linked to Sir Mulberry Hawk, a character in Charles Dicken's Nicholas Nickleby.

Muriel

Irish

"of the bright sea, sea-bright"

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…

Murray

Scottish

"from the land by the sea"

An old-man name that sounds cute when used for a little girl, and is starting to seem cool again for boys too. For girls, it might be associated with Mina Murray (later, Mina Harker) from Bram…