My favourite girls names beginning with M, N, O & P

Marcy

Diminutive of Marcia

"Mars, god of war"

Marcy is about as hip as bobby sox and saddle shoes – which is to say, it's probably due a revival in the not-too-distant future! It was a typical Peanuts character name, which peaked in the…

Marielle

Dutch and French diminutive of Mary

"drop of the sea, bitter, or beloved"

Popular in France in the 60s, Marielle is one of many international variations and diminutives of Mary. While actress and author Mariel Hemingway made us aware of the more abbreviated spelling —…

Marla

Variation of Marlene

"Mary Magdalene; beloved, bitter, drop of the sea + high tower"

Marla might have dropped out of style in the US back in the 90s, but it has seen a resurgence in the UK in recent years. With a little dated charm about it, this variation of Marlene, itself a…

Marsha

Variation of Marcia, diminutive of Marcella

"warlike"

Marcia is the most common version of this group of names in the U. S., now found more often among moms and grandmas than babies. Marsha was a Top 100 name in the 1950s, when Marcy was its common…

Mollie

Variation of Molly

This new/old spin on Molly -- nickname-names with the ie ending were particularly popular at the turn of the last century -- that has landed this name in the US Top 1000.

Orelia

Orelia is a melodious feminine name with Latin roots, derived from 'aurum' meaning 'gold.' It's closely related to Aurelia and can be considered a variant form. The name evokes a sense of…

Polly

English variation of Molly, diminutive of Mary, Hebrew

"bitter"

An alternative to the no-longer-fresh Molly, the initial 'P' gives Polly a peppier sound, combining the cozy virtues of an old-timey name with the bounce of a barmaid. Associated with Tom Sawyer's…

Primrose

English flower name

"first rose"

A quaint and quirky flower name, until recently considered a bit too prim for most American classrooms but brought back to life in recent years by the attractive character of Primrose "Prim" Everdeen…