Cute Girl Names

Cute and eminently wearable surname name for girls.

This rare sixth-century saint's name has a modern, merry feel.

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.

The French Miley? This trendy choice from Brittany, which is pronounced either as Miley or May-lee, is related to the traditional (male) saint's name Mael, traditionally feminized as Maelle.

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

Mallie is a feminine name with multiple possible origins. It may have originated as a diminutive of Mallory (meaning 'unfortunate' from Norman French), Malina (meaning 'raspberry' in Slavic languages), or Amalia (meaning 'work' from Germanic roots). Alternatively, it could be a variant of Molly, which is itself a diminutive of Mary. The name has a sweet, vintage charm characteristic of the late 19th and early 20th centuries when diminutive names ending in '-ie' were particularly fashionable. While not currently in the top rankings, Mallie has the appealing quality of being recognizable but uncommon. It carries a friendly, approachable sound that balances well between traditional and distinctive.

Balancing femininity, vintage charm, and fantasy nerdiness, Marceline is one to watch. Marceline the Vampire Queen from the 2010-2018 animated TV series Adventure Time brought her elaborate French name back into public consciousness. It re-entered the Top 1000 in 2020, after an 86 year hiatus, and rose into the 700s in 2021. Nicknames Marcie and Marcy are rising in popularity as well. Marceline may appeal to parents who like frilly, traditional, and sophisticated names such as Josephine and Genevieve.

This pretty, international feminization of Matthew was chosen by Mira Sorvino for her daughter, Mattea Angel. As the Spanish Mateo and the Italian Matteo become more popular for baby boys throughout Europe, the English-speaking world, and the Americas, Mattea is sure to get wider recognition. And as Theo and Thea have become fashionable names, Teo and Tea are rising too.

In English, the word 'maven' refers to an expert or connoisseur, someone who possesses deep knowledge. Comedian Tracy Morgan brought this name into the spotlight when he chose it for his daughter, Maven Sonae, in 2013. Now, over 100 newborn girls in the US are given this name each year.

Mavis, another word for the song thrush, is also a relative of the Welsh word for strawberries, mefus. Mavis has something of a British World War II feel, a friend of Beryl and Doris, but it was quite popular in the U.S. a couple of decades earlier, peaking in the Roaring Twenties.

Mercedes is one of the few names attached to luxury living that we can wholeheartedly recommend, it being a legitimate Spanish appellation stemming from one of the epithets given to the Virgin Mary--Santa Maria de las Mercedes, or Our Lady of the Mercies. The car, by the way was named after the eleven-year-old daughter of the Daimler company's French distributor in 1901.

Meredy is a feminine name with a whimsical, melodic quality. It may be derived as a variation of Meredith, which has Welsh origins meaning 'great lord' or 'sea lord,' or it could be a creative modern formation. The softer ending gives it a gentle, flowing sound compared to Meredith. The name appears occasionally in fantasy literature and games, which may contribute to its ethereal associations. Meredy remains quite rare as a given name, never having ranked among popular naming charts in English-speaking countries. Its uncommon status appeals to parents seeking something distinctive yet accessible, with a pleasant sound and subtle connection to more traditional naming conventions.

Is Merrin a real name or a melodic invention? Singer Bo Bice brought this merry name to the public's attention when he chose it for his daughter, but most reliable baby name sources don't list it. But there is a Cornish saint's name Merryn, thought to be a variation of the Irish names for girls Mirin and Mirren, and so we're going to call Merrin another twist on that ancient group of names.

In the contemporary US, Minka attracted notice via actress Minka Kelly, who played the gorgeous Lyla on Friday Night Lights.

Popular name in Spain drawn from the Provencal Mireio, coined by the poet Frederic Mistral. Very pretty and, though difficult to spell and pronounce, simpler than the French version.

A pretty name that may pose pronunciation problems for non-French speakers or those who've never encountered it, but it is worth the effort. Pronounced meer-AY (or closer to MEE-RAY in French), it comes from the Occitan word mirar meaning "to admire".

Mitzi is a spunky German nickname name that might appeal to parents drawn to the genre of lively vintage chorus girl names that proliferated in 1930's musicals. Lively entertainer Mitzi Gaynor--who was originally named Francesca Marlene de Czani von Gerber--made the name notable in mid-century America.

Like Penn Jillette, you can have your own little brash babe.