Read our list of good baby girl names beginning with M. Find out their origin and meaning and decide whether your newborn could be a Mabel, Mercy or Murali

Advertisement

1. Mabel

  • Origin: English
  • Meaning: lovable, dear
  • Also: Amabel Mabella, May, Maybelle, Maybelline

2. Maci

  • Origin: Old French
  • Meaning: weapon

3. Maddison

  • Origin: English
  • Meaning: variant of Mathieson, meaning son of Matthew or Muade; also used a boy’s name
  • Also: Madison

4. Madeline

More like this
  • Origin: Hebrew
  • Meaning: woman from Magdala, a town on the Sea of Galilee
  • Also: Magdalene (original form), Madeleine, Magdalen, Madge, Maddy, Magda (German form)

5. Madhul

  • Origin: Indian
  • Meaning: sweet

6. Madonna

  • Origin: Italian
  • Meaning: my lady

7. Madra

  • Origin: Spanish
  • Meaning: my mother

8. Maegan

  • Origin: Welsh
  • Meaning: strong, capable
  • Also: Margaret

9. Maeve

  • Origin: Irish
  • Meaning: intoxicating, a name from Irish legend
  • Also: Mave, Meave, Meaveen

10. Maida

  • Origin: Old English
  • Meaning: maiden

11. Magdalene

  • Origin: Hebrew and Greek
  • Meaning: a woman from Magdala, an ancient city on the shore of the Sea of Galilee believed to be the birthplace of Mary Magdalene
  • Also: Magda

12. Magna

  • Origin: Latin
  • Meaning: great; the feminine form of Magnus

13. Magnolia

  • Origin: Latin
  • Meaning: tree name used as a first name
  • Also: Amabel Mabella, May, Maybelle, Maybelline

14. Mahalah

  • Origin: Hebrew
  • Meaning: a city used as a first name

15. Mahalia

  • Origin: Hebrew
  • Meaning: tenderness

16. Mahina

  • Origin: Hawaiian
  • Meaning: moon

17. Mair

  • Origin: Welsh
  • Meaning: beloved
  • Also: Mairi, Mary

18. Maisie

  • Origin: Scottish
  • Meaning: pearl
  • Also: Margaret

19. Makala

  • Origin: Hawaiian
  • Meaning: myrtle
  • Also: Makayla

20. Makani

  • Origin: Hawaiian
  • Meaning: wind; also used s a boy’s name

Looking for names for girls starting with other letters of the alphabet?

Complete your baby girl name shortlist by clicking on the letter you’re after

A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z

21. Maki

  • Origin: Japanese
  • Meaning: truth tree

22. Malaika

  • Origin: African American
  • Meaning: angel from heaven

23. Malu

  • Origin: Hawaiian
  • Meaning: peace

24. Malulani

  • Origin: Hawaiian
  • Meaning: beneath peaceful skies

25. Malvina

  • Origin: Gaelic
  • Meaning: smooth brow
  • Also: Melvina

26. Manda

  • Origin: English
  • Meaning: lovable
  • Also: Amanda

27. Manette

  • Origin: French
  • Meaning: star of the sea; French form of Mary
  • Also: Mary

28. Manisha

  • Origin: Hindi
  • Meaning: clever

29. Manju

  • Origin: Sanskrit
  • Meaning: lovely
  • Also: Manjubala, Manjulika

30. Manon

  • Origin: French/Welsh
  • Meaning: beautiful queen; French form of Marie
  • Also: Marie, Mary

31. Margaret

  • Origin: Greek
  • Meaning: pearl
  • Also: Maisie (Scottish form), Megan (Welsh form) Mairead (Irish form); Margot, Marguerite (French forms); Marjorie (Scottish form), Margarita, Margaretta, Margoletta, Margery, Marge, Margie Maggie, Madge, Meg, Megan (Welsh form) Greta, Meta, Rita, Greta (Swedish form) Gretel, Gretchen, Peg, Peggy, Peggie

32. Maria

  • Origin: Latin
  • Meaning: of the sea
  • Also: Mary

33. Marian

  • Origin: Hebrew
  • Meaning: precious one
  • Also: Marianne, Marianna, Marion

34. Marigold

  • Origin: English
  • Meaning: golden flower; the name of a flower used as a first name

35. Marilyn

  • Origin: English
  • Meaning: star of the sea

36. Marina

  • Origin: Latin
  • Meaning: from the sea

37. Marini

  • Origin: Swahili
  • Meaning: healthy, fresh, pretty

38. Marion

  • Origin: Hebrew
  • Meaning: bitter; of the sea

39. Marlene

  • Origin: German
  • Meaning: German form of Mary Magdalene
  • Also: Marlena, Marlee

40. Marley

  • Origin: Old English
  • Meaning: meadow by the sea: also used as a boy’s name

41. Martha

  • Origin: Aramaic
  • Meaning: lady
  • Also: Marta, Martella, Martie

42. Martina

  • Origin: Latin
  • Meaning: warlike; the feminine form of Martin
  • Also: Martita, Martinella, Martine, Marty, Marti.

43. Mary

  • Origin: Hebrew
  • Meaning: desired child
  • Also: Miriam, Mariam, Maria, Marilyn, Marie (French form); Mairi, Mhairi (Gaelic form) Maire (Irish form), Mair (Welsh form), Moira Moyra, Maura (Irish forms); Marietta, Mariella, Molly, Mollie, Polly, Mimi, Mamie, May, Mai, Mae, Manette (French form), Manon (French form) Marion (French form) Maria (Latin form)

44. Maryann

  • Origin: French
  • Meaning: of the sea; combination of Mary and Ann

45. Marylou

  • Origin: Latin
  • Meaning: star of the sea; combination of Mary and Louise

46. Masara

  • Origin: African American
  • Meaning: magical woman

47. Matilda

  • Origin: Old German
  • Meaning: mighty in warfare
  • Also: Matty, Tilly, Tilda, Maud (old French form), Maude, Maudie

48. Maureen

  • Origin: Irish
  • Meaning: of the sea; bitter
  • Also: Mary, Moreen and Moira

49. Mave

  • Origin: Welsh
  • Meaning: joy
  • Also: Maeve

50. Mavis

  • Origin: Old French
  • Meaning: song thrush

51. Maxine

  • Origin: Latin
  • Meaning: the greatest; the feminine form of Max

52. May

  • Origin: English, French, Dutch
  • Meaning: month of May
  • Also: Margaret

53. Maya

  • Origin: Sanskrit
  • Meaning: illusion

54. Maybelle

  • Origin: French
  • Meaning: my beautiful one; combination of May and Belle

55. Meera

  • Origin: Sanskrit
  • Meaning: Godly woman

56. Meg

  • Origin: Greek
  • Meaning: pearl
  • Also: Margaret, Megan

57. Mehetabel

  • Origin: Aramaic
  • Meaning: God is taking action

58. Mehul

  • Origin: Sanskrit
  • Meaning: clouds

59. Melanie

  • Origin: Greek
  • Meaning: black
  • Also: Melony, Melany

60. Melisande

  • Origin: French
  • Meaning: strong in work
  • Also: Millicent

61. Melissa

  • Origin: Greek
  • Meaning: a bee
  • Also: Melinda, Mindy, Melita

62. Melody

  • Origin: Middle English
  • Meaning: musical word used as a first name

63. Melokuhle

  • Origin: African American
  • Meaning: aware of the world

64. Mercedes

  • Origin: Spanish
  • Meaning: our Lady of the Mercies

65. Mercy

  • Origin: Latin
  • Meaning: pity, thanks

66. Meredith

  • Origin: Welsh
  • Meaning: great lord; a surname used as a first name
  • Also: Meridith, Merry

67. Meriel

  • Origin: Scottish
  • Meaning: sea bright
  • Also: Meryl, Muriel

68. Merle

  • Origin: French
  • Meaning: blackbird

69. Merry

  • Origin: Old English
  • Meaning: pleasing, delightful

70. Mia

  • Origin: Italian
  • Meaning: mine
  • Also: Mary

71. Michaela

  • Origin: Hebrew
  • Meaning: who is like God; the feminine form of Michael
  • Also: Michele, Michelle (French forms)

72. Mildred

  • Origin: Old English
  • Meaning: gentle power
  • Also: Millie

73. Mila

  • Origin: Spanish
  • Meaning: miracles

74. Milla

  • Origin: Slavic
  • Meaning: gracious, dear
  • Also: Camilla

75. Millicent

  • Origin: Old German
  • Meaning: strong worker
  • Also: Melisenda, Melisande, Melisent (French forms); Millie, Milly

76. Mima

  • Origin: Hebrew
  • Meaning: dove
  • Also: Jemima

77. Mimi

  • Origin: French
  • Meaning: rebellious
  • Also: Maria

78. Minerva

  • Origin: Latin
  • Meaning: the mind; the name of a Roman goddess

79. Minta

  • Origin: Greek
  • Meaning: plant name
  • Also: Araminta

80. Mira

  • Origin: Sanskrit
  • Meaning: sea, ocean

81. Mirabel

  • Origin: Latin
  • Meaning: magnificent
  • Also: Mirabelle, Mirabella, Mira

82. Miranda

  • Origin: Latin
  • Meaning: to be admired
  • Also: Mira

83. Miriam

  • Origin: Hebrew
  • Meaning: of the sea
  • Also: Mariame, Mary, Mitzi

84. Mhairi

  • Origin: Hebrew
  • Meaning: longed for child
  • Also: Mary

85. Mo

  • Origin: American
  • Meaning: dark skinned
  • Also: Maureen

86. Modesty

  • Origin: Latin
  • Meaning: unassuming

87. Mohana

  • Origin: Sanskrit
  • Meaning: attractive

88. Molly

  • Origin: English
  • Meaning: of the sea

89. Mona

  • Origin: Irish
  • Meaning: high-born

90. Monica

  • Origin: Greek
  • Meaning: the virgin one
  • Also: Monique (French form), Monika (Scandinavian form); Mona

91. Morag

  • Origin: Gaelic
  • Meaning: great

92. Morgan

  • Origin: Welsh
  • Meaning: born of the sea

93. Morna

  • Origin: Gaelic
  • Meaning: beloved
  • Also: Myrna

94. Morven

  • Origin: Scottish
  • Meaning: big peak

95. Morwenna

  • Origin: Welsh
  • Meaning: waves of the sea
  • Also: Morwen

96. Muhsina

  • Origin: Arabic
  • Meaning: kind-hearted

103. Muirne

  • Origin: Irish
  • Meaning: well-loved

97. Munira

  • Origin: Arabic
  • Meaning: brilliant

98. Murali

  • Origin: Sanskrit
  • Meaning: a flute

99. Muriel

  • Origin: Celtic
  • Meaning: bright sea
  • Also: Meriel, Meryl, Merrill

100. Mya

  • Origin: Greek
  • Meaning: great, mother
  • Also: Mary

101. Myfanwy

  • Origin: Welsh
  • Meaning: my fine one
  • Also: Fanny, Myfi

102. Myra

  • Origin: Greek
  • Meaning: beloved
  • Also: Mira

103. Myrtle

  • Origin: Greek
  • Meaning: the name of the flower used as a first name

About our author Catherine Ball

Catherine Ball is a freelance journalist who specialises in writing about parenting and health. She has been a journalist for 20 years, writing for a wide range of regional and national publications. She is also mum to 4 children between the ages 3 and 12, so has drawn up many, many lists of baby names over the past few years.

Illustration: Emma Winchester

Read more:

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement