145 of the Best Girl Names that Start with “M”

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Naming expert Dr. Hayley Elizabeth Wilson shares her favorite girl names that start with “M”

Co-authored by Dr. Hayley Elizabeth Wilson and Annabelle Reyes

Last Updated: November 25, 2025 Fact Checked

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• Popular
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• Unique
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• Pretty
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• Vintage
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• Modern
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• More Girl Names
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• Video

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Are you a new parent looking for a marvelous, magical “M” name for your daughter? You’ve come to the right place! We spoke to naming expert Dr. Hayley Elizabeth Wilson and name consultant Jennifer Ficarra to compile a thorough list of the “M” names for girls, including popular, unique, pretty, vintage, and modern options. Keep reading to find the perfect “M” name for your magnificent daughter-to-be!

Best Baby Girl Names that Start with “M”

Naming expert Dr. Hayley Elizabeth Wilson likes “M” names like Mae, Magnolia, Mallory, Marisol, and Mia. Other options include:

• Madeleine: “Tower” or “from Magdala.”
• Maeve: “She who intoxicates.”
• Margaret: “Pearl.”
• Matilda: “Mighty in battle.”
• Meredith: “Protector of the sea.”
• Millie: “Gentle strength.”
• Mirabelle: “Marvelous” or “astonishing.”

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Section 1 of 6:

Popular Girl Names that Start with “M”

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1. 
   Pick one of these names if you want something well-loved. These “M” names are frequently used classics that never go out of style, so they’re perfect if you’re looking for a sure thing. Here are some of our favorite popular “M” names to choose from:

   • Madeline: “Tower” or “from Magdala,” Hebrew origin.
   • Madelyn: “Tower” or “from Magdala,” Hebrew origin.
   • Madison: “Daughter of Maud” or “strength in battle,” German origin.
   • Maeve: “She who intoxicates,” Irish origin.
   • Makenna: “Son of Cionaodha,” “fire,” “affection,” or “many gathered,” Irish and Hawaiian origins.
   • Mallory: “Unlucky,” French origin.
   • Malia: “Perhaps” or “probably,” Hawaiian origin.
   • Margaret: “Pearl,” Greek origin.
   • Margot: “Pearl,” French origin.
   • Maisie: “Pearl,” Scottish origin.
   • Maria: “Star of the sea,” “bitterness,” “beloved,” or “wished-for child,” Latin, Hebrew, and Greek origins.
   • Mariah: “God is my teacher,” Hebrew origin.
   • Mary: “Star of the sea,” “bitterness,” “beloved,” or “wished-for child,” Latin, Greek, and Hebrew origins.
   • Matilda: “Mighty in battle,” German origin.
   • May: “Fifth month,” British origin.
   • Maya: “Illusion,” “magic,” or “mother,” Sanskrit and Roman origins.
   • Mckenna: “Born of fire,” “ardent love,” “firesprung,” Scottish and Irish origins.
   • Megan: “Pearl,” Welsh origin.
   • Melanie: “Blackness,” Greek origin.
   • Melissa: “Bee,” Greek origin.
   • Meredith: “Protector of the sea,” Welsh origin.
   • Mia: “Mine,” Italian and Spanish origins.
   • Michaela: “Who resembles God,” Hebrew origin.
   • Michelle: “Who is like God,” French origin.
   • Mila: “Miracles,” “favored,” or “gracious,” Spanish and Slavic origins.
   • Millie: “Gentle strength” or “strong in work,” German origin.
   • Miriam: “Star of the sea,” “bitterness,” or “beloved,” Hebrew, Aramaic, and Latin origins.
   • Molly: “Star of the sea,” “bitterness,” or “beloved,” British, Latin, and Hebrew origins.
   • Monica: “Advisor,” Latin origin.
   • Morgan: “Sea protector” or “sea chief,” Welsh origin.

   Meet the wikiHow Experts

   Dr. Hayley Elizabeth Wilson is a naming expert. She shares name meanings and naming tips with her over 20k followers on her Instagram, @little_name_library.

   Jennifer Ficarra is a name consultant and the founder of Nom de Bloom. She offers customizable name consultation packages that include name lists, origins, and explanations.
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Section 2 of 6:

Unique Girl Names that Start with “M”

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1. 
   Opt for a rare “M” name to help your little one stand out. These unique “M” names are a bit less well-known, which makes them perfect for a one-of-a-kind little girl. If you want to decrease your daughter’s chances of sharing a name with anyone else in her class, check out these rare options:

   • Maika: “Who is like God?” French origin.
   • Maite: “Love,” “beloved,” or “wished-for child,” Brazilian, Spanish, and Basque origins.
   • Malani: “Relaxing,” Hawaiian origin.
   • Malka: “Queen,” Hebrew origin.
   • Mara: “Bitter,” Hebrew origin.
   • Marcela: “Warlike” or “dedicated to Mars,” Latin origin.
   • Maren: “Beloved,” “rebellious,” or “of the sea,” Danish, Hebrew, and Latin origin.
   • Martina: “Son of Mars,” Latin and Roman origins.
   • Maryam: “Exalted one” or “beloved,” Hebrew and Arabic origins.
   • Mayla: “Mother” or “nurse,” Scandinavian origin.
   • Mei: “Plum,” “beautiful,” “life,” “bright,” “bud,” or “sprout,” Chinese and Japanese origins.
   • Melina: “Honey” or “bravery,” Greek origin.
   • Memphis: “Enduring beauty” or “perpetual beauty,” Greek and Egyptian origins.
   • Mercedes: “Wage” or “reward,” Spanish origin.
   • Mercy: “Wages” or “reward,” Latin origin.
   • Mickey: “Who is like God?” Hebrew origin.
   • Mika: “Fragrance
   • Milagro: “Miracle,” Spanish origin.
   • Milan: “Gracious” or “dear,” Slavic origin.
   • Mina: “Love,” German.
   • Mira: “Admirable” or “peace,” Latin, Sanskrit, and Slavic origins.
   • Mitsue: “Bright river” or “bright wisdom,” Japanese origin.
   • Mitzie: “Rebelliousness,” Hebrew origin.
   • Mona: “Noble,” or “aristocratic,” Irish origin.
   • Monet: “Hearing” or “listen,” Hebrew and Greek origins.
   • Monroe: “Mouth of the River Roe,” Scottish origin.
   • Murphy: “Sea warrior,” Irish origin.
   • Mya: “Bitterness,” “beloved,” “wished-for child,” “mother,” or “emerald,” Greek, Hebrew, and Burmese origins.
   • Mylah: “Merciful,” English origin.
   • Myra: “Myrrh,” English origin.

Section 3 of 6:

Pretty Girl Names that Start with “M”

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1. 
   Choose an “M” name as beautiful as your baby girl. You can’t go wrong with one of these elegant, graceful “M” names. Some of them mean “beauty,” and others are just super pretty-sounding. Either way, they’re sure to suit your beautiful daughter perfectly!

   • Madeleine: “Woman of Magdala” or “one that evokes a memory,” French origin.
   • Magdalena: “Woman from “Magdala” or “tower,” Greek and Hebrew origins.
   • Magnolia: “Magnol’s flower,” French origin.
   • Makayla: “Who resembles God?” Hebrew origin.
   • Malaika: “Angel,” Swahili, Arabic, and Hebrew origins.
   • Malaya: “Free,” Filipino origin.
   • Maliyah: “Calm” and “peaceful,” Hawaiian origin.
   • Marceline: “Silk fabric” or “dedicated to Mars,” French and Roman origins.
   • Margaery: “Of Marjorie” or “pearl,” French origins.
   • Margarita: “Pearl,” Spanish and Greek origins.
   • Marguerite: “Pearl,” French origin.
   • Margeaux: “Pearl” or “daisy,” French origin.
   • Mariana: “Grace” or “drop of the sea,” Spanish origin.
   • Marianne: “Grace” or “sea of bitterness,” French and Hebrew origins.
   • Maribelle: “Beautiful,” Latin origin.
   • Mariella: “Star of the sea,” “bitter,” “rebelliousness,” or “wished-for child,” Latin, Italian, and Scandinavian origins.
   • Marigold: “Marigold flower,” British origin.
   • Marilyn: “Star of the sea,” “bitterness,” “rebellious, “beloved,” or “wished-for child,” British, Welsh, and Hebrew origins.
   • Marina: “Of the sea,” Latin origin.
   • Marisol: “Sea and sun,” Spanish origin.
   • Maritza: “Bitterness,” “beloved,” or “wished-for child,” Spanish origin.
   • Marissa: “Mermaid,” Latin origin.
   • Maybelle: “Lovable,” British origin.
   • Melinda: “Sweet” or “honey,” Latin origin.
   • Melody: “Music” or “song,” Greek origin.
   • Milana: “Gracious” or “dear,” Slovak and Italian origins.
   • Milena: “Gracious” or “dear,” Slavic and Czech origins.
   • Miranda: “Worthy of admiration,” Latin origins.
   • Mirabella: “Wonderful,” Latin, French, and Italian origins.
   • Mirabelle: “Marvelous” or “astonishing,” Latin origin.
   • Mirielle: “Sea bright,” French origins.
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Section 4 of 6:

Vintage Girl Names that Start with “M”

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1. 
   Go for an “M” name with some vintage charm. These old-fashioned “M” names are totally adorable, and they’ve endured the test of time, so you can rest assured that they’ll always be in style. You may even find your grandmother or great-grandmother’s name on this list, which would be a great way to honor a relative you admire!

   • Mabel: “Lovable,” Latin origin.
   • Macie: “A gift of the Lord,” Irish and English origins.
   • Mae: “Pearl,” English origin.
   • Magdalene: “Woman from Magdala” or “high tower,” Hebrew origin.
   • Magda: “Of Magdala,” “tower,” “great,” or “elegant,” Hebrew origin.
   • Maggie: “Pearl,” English origin.
   • Maisy/Maisie: “Pearl,” Greek and Scottish origins.
   • Marie: “Star of the sea,” Latin origin.
   • Marian: “Star of the sea,” “rebellious,” “beloved,” or “grace,” Hebrew origin.
   • Marge: “Pearl,” British and Greek origins.
   • Margo: “Pearl,” French and Greek origins.
   • Marjorie: “Pearl,” British origin.
   • Marta: “Lady,” Latin origin.”
   • Martha: “The mistress,” Greek origin.
   • Maryann: “Bitterness, “rebelliousness,” “wished-for child,” or “beloved,” Hebrew, Latin, and Egyptian origins.
   • Mary Jane: “Drop of the sea,” “beloved,” or “bitter,” Hebrew and British origins.
   • Maura: “Star of the sea,” “bitterness,” or “beloved,” Irish origins.
   • Maude: “Mighty in battle,” French, German, and Hebrew origins.
   • Mavis: “Songbird,” French origin.
   • Maxine: “Greatest,” Latin origin.
   • Mildred: “Gentle strength,” British origin.
   • Millicent: “Strong in work,” German origin.
   • Minerva: “Intellect” or “wisdom,” Latin and Roman origins.
   • Mindy: “Honey” or “black,” Latin and Greek origins.
   • Minnie: “Will,” “desire,” “helmet,” or “protection,” German and Latin origins.
   • Miracle: “Wonder,” Latin origin.
   • Moira: “Destiny” or “fate,” Greek and Irish origins.
   • Mollie: “Star of the sea,” Hebrew origins.

Section 5 of 6:

Modern Girl Names that Start with “M”

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1. 
   Pick one of these “M” names if you want something modern. These names have a super fresh, current feel to them. They’re perfect if you’re looking for a very of-the-moment or trendy option for your future It-Girl! Here are some of our faves:

   • Mackenzie: “Child of the wise leader” or “born of fire,” Gaelic origin.
   • Maci: “Weapon,” French origin.
   • Macy: “Weapon,” French origin.
   • Maddie: “Woman from Magdala” or “strength in battle,” British and Greek origins.
   • Madden: “Little dog,” Irish origin.
   • Maelynn: “Chief,” “prince,” “bald,” or “May,” British, Celtic, and Latin origins.
   • Maia: “Mother,” Greek origin.
   • Makenzie: “Child of the wise leader” or “born of fire,” Scottish and Irish origins.
   • Maple: “Maple tree,” British origin.
   • Marley: “Pleasant seaside meadow,” British origin.
   • Marleigh: “Pleasant wood,” British origin.
   • Marlowe: “From the hill by the lake,” British and French origins.
   • Marnie: “Of the sea,” Latin origin.
   • Mars: “God of War,” Latin origin.
   • Mason: “Stone worker,” British origin.
   • Mattie: “Strength in battle,” German and Hebrew origins.
   • Maxwell: “Mack’s stream,” Scottish origin.
   • Mazie: “Pearl,” Scottish origin.
   • Mckinley: “Learned ruler,” Gaelic origin.
   • Meadow: “Field of Grass,” British and American origins.
   • Merrit: “Boundary gate,” British origin.
   • Micah: “Who resembles God?” Hebrew origin.
   • Mikayla: “Who is like God,” Hebrew origin.
   • Milani: “From the middle of the plain,” Latin origin.
   • Miley: “Proud chief,” Gaelic origin.
   • Miller: “One who grinds the grain, British origin.
   • Mykah: “Who resembles God?” Hebrew origin.
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Section 6 of 6:

More Girl Names

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1. Looking for more baby girl names? We got you! Check out a few of our other girl name lists to find even more options for your new daughter:

   • Girl Names that Start with “A”
   • Girl Names that Start with “J”
   • Girl Names that Start with “W”
   • Victorian Girl Names
   • Elegant Girl Names
   • Rich Girl Names
   • Cool Girl Names

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