M's

Margot

French, diminutive of Margaret

"pearl"

Margot is suddenly a star again. After a nearly-half century absence, it hopped back on the Top 1000 list in 2013 and is on the rise. The Margot spelling is now given to three times as many baby…

Melanie

Greek

"black, dark"

Gone with the Wind inspired a generation of girls named Melanie, though it looks as though Scarlett will triumph in the end. Melanie was the name of two Roman saints of the fifth century, a…

Madelaine

French variation of Madeleine

"high tower"

This spelling gives the name favorite an Elaine spin.

Maelle

French or Breton

"chief or prince"

This feminine form of Mael has the distinctive "aelle" ending found in Brittany. In the French spelling Maëlle, it is a Top 100 girls' name in France.

Maisa

Finnish and Old Swedish form of Maria, Portuguese, Japanese, Georgian, Arabic

"beloved; drop of the sea, bitter; beloved and famous in battle; dance + sand; born in May; walking with a proud gait"

A truly international name with a multitude of origins. From Finnish and Old Swedish, it is one of many international variations of Mary and Maria, and can also be spelled Majsa (pronounced MIE-suh).…

Majken

Scandinavian version of Marie or Mary, Hebrew or Egyptian

"drop of the sea; bitter; beloved; love"

Majken, which is related to Maiken and Maike, is a popular name in Sweden whose variations are used throughout Scandinavia as cooler forms of Mary. Majken is virtually unknown in the U.S. and…

Marisa

Italian and Spanish combination of Maria and Louisa

"drop of the sea, bitter, or beloved + famous battle"

A name made famous by Marisas Berenson and Tomei, never became as saturated as its cousin Melissa, so still a feasible choice. Marisa is one of those Spanish and Italian names for girls that sounds…

Mariska

Hungarian and Dutch diminutive of Maria

"drop of the sea, bitter, or beloved"

Robust and energetic with an even blend of spikiness and elegance, Mariska is a diminutive of Maria, notably used in Hungary and The Netherlands. Internationally, it was brought into the spotlight by…

Maysa

Maysa is a beautiful feminine name with Arabic origins, derived from the word 'mays' meaning 'to walk with a proud, swinging gait' or referring to a type of fragrant tree. The name is also associated…

Marzia

Italian

"of Mars"

A fresher, feistier Italian variant of Marcia.

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");…

Merideth

Merideth is a feminine name representing a spelling variation of Meredith, which originated as a Welsh surname derived from 'Maredudd,' meaning 'great lord' or 'sea protector.' This alternative…

Merisa

Merisa is a feminine name with multiple possible origins. It may be a variant of Marissa, itself derived from the Latin "maris" meaning "of the sea," or a variation of the Hebrew name Miriam. In some…