This list includes 23 Powerful girl names that start with M, from “Maelle” to “Mumtaz”. These names generally convey strength, leadership, or resilience and suit parents, writers, or researchers choosing bold female names.
‘Powerful girl names that start with M’ are given names beginning with M that signal strength, victory, or leadership. Many come from Latin, Arabic, and Celtic roots, and some appear in myth or history, like “Maeve” the Irish queen.
Below you’ll find the table with Name, Origin, Pronunciation, and Meaning.
Name: Shows the full name as listed, so you can scan sound, style, and visual appeal quickly.
Origin: Indicates the name’s cultural or linguistic background, helping you choose a name with meaningful heritage.
Pronunciation: Gives a simple phonetic guide so you can say the name correctly and judge its spoken impact.
Meaning: Summarizes the core meaning or symbolism so you can assess emotional or thematic fit for your child or character.
Powerful girl names that start with M
| Name | Origin/Country | Pronunciation (simple phonetic ± IPA) | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Matilda | Germanic (Old High German) | ma-TIL-də (məˈtɪldə) | mighty in battle |
| Maud | Old French/Medieval English | mawd (mɔːd) | mighty in battle |
| Millicent | Germanic (via Old French) | MIL-i-sent (ˈmɪlɪsənt) | strong in work |
| Melisende | Old French/Germanic | meh-li-ZEND (mɛlɪˈzɛnd) | strong in work |
| Marcella | Latin (from Marcus) | mar-SEL-ə (mɑrˈsɛlə) | warlike |
| Marcia | Latin (from Marcus) | MAR-shə (ˈmɑrʃə) | warlike |
| Martina | Latin (from Martinus) | mar-TEE-nə (mɑrˈtiːnə) | warlike |
| Marcellina | Latin (from Marcellus) | mar-sel-EE-nah (mɑrˈsɛlɪnə) | young warrior |
| Minerva | Latin/Roman | mi-NER-və (mɪˈnɜːrvə) | goddess of wisdom and war |
| Maxine | Latin (from Maximus) | mack-SEEN (mækˈsiːn) | greatest |
| Maxima | Latin | MAX-i-mə (ˈmæksɪmə) | greatest |
| Minna | Germanic (short for Wilhelmina) | MIN-ə (ˈmɪnə) | resolute protector |
| Mildred | Old English | MILD-red (ˈmɪldrɛd) | gentle strength |
| Maelle | Breton (Maëlle) | mah-EL (maˈɛl) | chief, prince |
| Malika | Arabic | mah-LEE-kah (maˈliːka) | queen |
| Malka | Hebrew | MAHL-kah (ˈmalkə) | queen |
| Meredith | Welsh | MER-i-dith (ˈmɛrɪdɪθ) | great ruler |
| Morrigan | Old Irish | MOR-i-gan (ˈmɔrɪgən) | great queen |
| Morag | Scottish Gaelic | MOR-ag (ˈmɔrək) | great |
| Miroslava | Slavic | mee-ro-SLAH-vah (mɪroˈslɑːvə) | peace and glory |
| Mumtaz | Arabic/Persian | mum-TAHZ (mumˈtɑːz) | distinguished, excellent |
| Manaia | Māori | mah-NYE-ah (mɑˈnaɪə) | guardian, authority |
| Martha | Aramaic/Greek | MAR-thə (ˈmɑrθə) | lady; mistress |
Descriptions
Matilda
Germanic compound maht “might” + hild “battle”; Empress Matilda — claimant to English throne (Encyclopaedia Britannica).
Maud
Medieval short form of Matilda meaning “mighty in battle”; Maud of Norway — queen consort (Encyclopaedia Britannica).
Millicent
From Germanic amal “work” + swinth “strength”; Millicent Fawcett — suffragist leader (Oxford Dictionary of Names).
Melisende
Medieval royal name from amal “work” + swinth “strength”; Melisende — 12th‑century Queen of Jerusalem (Encyclopaedia Britannica).
Marcella
Feminine of Marcus (of Mars), carrying “warlike” sense; Marcella Hazan — influential cookbook author (Oxford/biographical sources).
Marcia
Feminine of Marcus, meaning “warlike” via Mars; Marcia — Roman noblewoman attested in historical sources (Encyclopaedia Britannica).
Martina
Feminine of Martin(us) “of Mars,” implying “warlike”; Martina Navratilova — tennis champion (International Tennis Hall of Fame).
Marcellina
Diminutive of Marcellus meaning “young warrior” or “little warlike one”; Saint Marcellina — early Christian saint (Catholic Encyclopedia).
Minerva
Roman goddess of wisdom and strategic warfare, symbolizing leadership and strategy; Minerva — Roman goddess (Encyclopaedia of Classical Mythology).
Maxine
Feminine form of Maximus, meaning “greatest”; Maxine Waters — U.S. Congresswoman (Biographical Directory).
Maxima
Latin feminine meaning “greatest” or “supreme”; Queen Máxima — queen consort of the Netherlands (Royal House of the Netherlands).
Minna
Short form of Wilhelmina (wil “will” + helm “protection”), “resolute protector”; Minna Canth — Finnish writer and activist (Finnish literature sources).
Mildred
From Old English mild + þryð “strength,” literally “gentle strength”; St. Mildred — Anglo‑Saxon abbess (Oxford Dictionary of Saints).
Maelle
Feminine of Breton Maël meaning “chief” or “prince,” with leadership connotation; Maëlle Pistoia — French singer (media sources).
Malika
Arabic feminine literally meaning “queen” or “sovereign”; Malika Ayane — Italian singer (public biographies).
Malka
Hebrew name meaning “queen,” used historically and in modern Jewish communities; Malka Drucker — author (library/biographical sources).
Meredith
From Welsh Maredudd with connotations of “great ruler” or lordship; Meredith Vieira — journalist and broadcaster (broadcast biographies).
Morrigan
Name of the Irish war and sovereignty goddess, etymologically “great queen”; The Morrigan — Celtic war‑goddess (Encyclopaedia of Irish Mythology).
Morag
Scottish feminine derived from Mòr “great,” often used as “the great one”; Morag Joss — novelist (publisher biography).
Miroslava
Slavic compound mir “peace/world” + slava “glory,” implying honored leadership; Miroslava Duma — entrepreneur (Forbes/profile sources).
Mumtaz
Arabic/Persian adjective name meaning “distinguished” or “chosen”; Mumtaz Mahal — Mughal empress and Taj Mahal’s namesake (Encyclopaedia Britannica).
Manaia
In Māori tradition Manaia denotes a guardian or authoritative supernatural figure, implying protection and power; Manaia — figure in Māori myth and art (Te Ara Encyclopedia).
Martha
From Aramaic marthā “lady” or “mistress,” indicating household authority; Martha Washington — First Lady of the United States (Mount Vernon archives).