This list includes 72 Asian girl names that start with M, from “Madhuri” to “Myung-hee”. They span East, South, Southeast, Central, and West Asia and include meanings, pronunciations, and cultural notes. Use them for baby naming, character creation, or cultural research.
Asian girl names that start with M are female given names across Asian cultures beginning with the letter M. Many reflect local languages and traditions; for example, “Madhuri” is a Sanskrit-derived Indian name meaning “sweetness”.
Below you’ll find the table with Name, Origin, Pronunciation, Meaning, Alternate spellings, and Notes.
Name: The name as commonly written in English or transliteration, used to scan and choose names at a glance.
Origin: Country or language of origin, helping you understand cultural context and regional usage of each name.
Pronunciation: Simple phonetic or IPA guide so you can say the name correctly and share it confidently.
Meaning: Short definition or etymology showing the name’s sense or origin, useful for matching to values or themes.
Alternate spellings: Common variants and Romanizations to help you find records and recognize different forms.
Notes: Quick cultural notes, regional usage, or citation pointers that give context beyond the basic entry.
Asian girl names that start with M
| Name | Origin | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mai | Japan | MAH-ee | Dance; linen robe. |
| Mei | China | MAY | Beautiful. |
| Maya | India, Southeast Asia | MY-ah | Illusion, magic (Sanskrit). |
| Mahnoor | Pakistan, Iran | MAH-noor | Moonlight. |
| Maryam | West Asia, South Asia | MAR-yum | Arabic form of Mary; beloved. |
| Mio | Japan | MEE-oh | Beautiful cherry blossom; beautiful thread. |
| Meera | India | MEE-rah | Prosperous; named for the poet-saint Mirabai. |
| Minh | Vietnam | MIN | Bright, intelligent, clever. |
| Mahsa | Iran | mah-SAW | Like the moon. |
| Malee | Thailand | MAH-lee | Flower. |
| Melati | Indonesia, Malaysia | meh-LAH-tee | Jasmine flower. |
| Mi-ran | Korea | MEE-rahn | Beautiful orchid. |
| Maricel | Philippines | mah-ree-SEL | Star of the sea (blend of Maria and Celia). |
| Meltem | Turkey | MEL-tem | Sea breeze, summer wind. |
| Madina | Central Asia, West Asia | mah-DEE-nah | City; referring to the holy city of Medina. |
| Meiling | China | MAY-ling | Beautiful jade tinkle. |
| Megumi | Japan | meh-GOO-mee | Blessing, grace. |
| Manisha | India | mah-NEE-shah | Intellect, desire; goddess of the mind. |
| Maliha | West Asia, South Asia | mah-LEE-ha | Beautiful, charming (Arabic). |
| Mayumi | Philippines | mah-YOO-mee | Gentle, modest (Tagalog). |
| Marjan | Iran, West Asia | mar-JAHN | Coral. |
| Mika | Japan | MEE-kah | Beautiful fragrance. |
| Mala | India | MAH-lah | Garland. |
| Meng | China | MUNG | Dream. |
| Mahira | Pakistan, India | MAH-hee-rah | Skilled, expert (Arabic). |
| Maki | Japan | MAH-kee | True hope; true tree. |
| Mona | West Asia | MO-nah | Wishes, desires (Arabic). |
| Mutiara | Indonesia | moo-tee-AH-rah | Pearl. |
| My | Vietnam | MEE | Beautiful. |
| Madoka | Japan | mah-DOH-kah | Circle; flower. |
| Madhuri | India | mah-DHOO-ree | Sweetness. |
| Malak | West Asia | MAH-lak | Angel. |
| Malika | Central Asia, South Asia, West Asia | mah-LEE-kah | Queen (Arabic). |
| Min-seo | Korea | MIN-suh | Clever and auspicious. |
| Mina | Iran, India, Turkey | MEE-nah | Enamel, azure; fish. |
| Mojgan | Iran | mozh-GAHN | Eyelashes. |
| Mehwish | Pakistan, Iran | MEH-vish | Moon-faced, beautiful as the moon (Persian). |
| Mawra | Pakistan | MAV-rah | Superior, transcendent. |
| Midori | Japan | mee-DOH-ree | Green. |
| Miyako | Japan | MEE-yah-koh | Beautiful night child; capital city. |
| Miyu | Japan | MEE-yoo | Beautiful gentleness; beautiful connection. |
| Mohini | India | moh-HEE-nee | Enchantress. |
| Myung-hee | Korea | MYUNG-hee | Bright and joyful. |
| Manju | India, Nepal | MAHN-joo | Pleasing, beautiful; snow, dew. |
| Mandana | Iran | man-daw-NAW | Eternal. |
| Maysa | West Asia | may-SAH | To walk with a proud, swinging gait. |
| Melike | Turkey | meh-lee-KEH | Queen. |
| Mukta | India | MOOK-tah | Pearl; liberated. |
| Maneerat | Thailand | mah-nee-RAT | Gem, jewel. |
| Mali | Thailand, Cambodia | MAH-li | Flower. |
| Manami | Japan | mah-NAH-mee | Loving beauty. |
| Meena | India, Pakistan | MEE-nah | Fish; gem. |
| Murni | Indonesia, Malaysia | MOOR-nee | Pure, sincere. |
| Masako | Japan | mah-SAH-koh | Proper child; elegant child. |
| Mariko | Japan | mah-REE-koh | True village child. |
| Mizuki | Japan | mee-ZOO-kee | Beautiful moon. |
| Mehri | Iran, Tajikistan | MEH-ree | Kind, lovable; related to the sun. |
| Mey | Cambodia | MAY | Leader. |
| Maha | West Asia | MAH-ha | Oryx (a type of antelope); beautiful eyes. |
| Mahtab | Iran, Pakistan | mah-TAAB | Moonlight. |
| Merpati | Indonesia | mer-PAH-tee | Dove. |
| Masoumeh | Iran | mah-soo-MEH | Innocent, sinless (Arabic). |
| Manushri | India | mah-nu-SHREE | Goddess Lakshmi; divine beauty. |
| Miao | China | MYOW | Wonderful, clever. |
| Mihira | India | mi-HEE-rah | Sun (feminine form of Mihir). |
| Moksha | India | MOK-shah | Liberation, spiritual freedom. |
| Moe | Japan, Myanmar | MOH-eh | Sprouting bud (Japanese); rain (Burmese). |
| Maliha | Pakistan, Bangladesh | mah-LEE-hah | Beautiful, charming. |
| Marwa | West Asia, North Africa | MAR-wah | A type of fragrant plant; a sacred hill in Mecca. |
| Mida | Philippines | MEE-dah | Abundance, plentiful. |
| Mounira | West Asia | moo-NEE-rah | Luminous, shining, brilliant (Arabic). |
| Mehreen | Pakistan, Bangladesh | meh-REEN | Loving; like the sun. |
Descriptions
Mai
A timeless and popular name in Japan, cherished for its simple elegance and dual meanings. Source: Japanese naming statistics.
Mei
A very popular name and a common element in longer Chinese names like Meiling (“beautiful jade”). Source: Chinese linguistic data.
Maya
An internationally popular name with deep roots in Hindu philosophy. Widely used across Asia and the world. Source: Global baby name databases.
Mahnoor
A beautiful and poetic Persian/Urdu name that has gained significant popularity in South Asia. Source: Pakistani naming trends.
Maryam
One of the most popular female names in the Muslim world, revered as the mother of Isa (Jesus). Source: Islamic naming traditions.
Mio
A sweet-sounding and modern Japanese name that has been a top choice for baby girls in recent years. Source: Japanese government statistics.
Meera
A classic name in India, associated with the revered 16th-century Hindu mystic poet. Alternate spelling: Mira. Source: Indian historical texts.
Minh
A popular unisex name in Vietnam, often given to girls with the hope they will be wise and brilliant. Source: Vietnamese naming conventions.
Mahsa
A very common and beloved Persian name for girls, evoking the beauty of the full moon. Source: Iranian naming data.
Malee
A simple, classic, and beautiful Thai name that is easy to pronounce for non-Thai speakers. Alternate spelling: Mali. Source: Thai language dictionaries.
Melati
A popular floral name representing purity and beauty, as jasmine is a culturally significant flower in the region. Source: Southeast Asian naming trends.
Mi-ran
A classic two-syllable Korean name that combines beauty (mi) with a fragrant flower (ran). Source: Korean naming traditions.
Maricel
A very common Filipino name with Spanish influence, popular since the mid-20th century. Source: Philippine Statistics Authority.
Meltem
A popular Turkish nature name that evokes a feeling of calm and warmth. Source: Turkish linguistic sources.
Madina
A widely used name across the Muslim world, especially popular in Central Asian countries like Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. Source: Cultural naming practices.
Meiling
A classic and elegant combination name popular in Chinese communities worldwide. Alternate spelling: Mei-Ling. Source: Chinese linguistic analysis.
Megumi
A traditional and gentle-sounding Japanese name with a virtuous and positive meaning. Source: Japanese baby name databases.
Manisha
A strong and popular Sanskrit name used widely in India and Nepal. Source: Hindu mythology and naming texts.
Maliha
An elegant and widespread name in Arabic-speaking countries and among Muslims in South Asia. Source: Arabic language dictionaries.
Mayumi
A beautiful indigenous Filipino name that is distinct from the Japanese name with the same spelling. Source: Filipino language studies.
Marjan
A classic Persian name that is also used in other nearby regions. It has a lovely, natural feel. Source: Persian naming traditions.
Mika
A popular, modern-sounding Japanese name. It is also used in other cultures but has a distinct Japanese origin. Source: Japanese naming trends.
Mala
A simple and traditional Sanskrit name, referring to the prayer beads or floral garlands used in Hindu ceremonies. Source: Indian cultural sources.
Meng
A poetic and modern-sounding single-syllable name that is popular for girls in China. Source: Modern Chinese naming data.
Mahira
This name has gained popularity across South Asia, partly due to Pakistani actress Mahira Khan. Source: Contemporary naming trends.
Maki
A sweet and simple Japanese name with several positive potential meanings depending on the kanji used. Source: Japanese naming dictionaries.
Mona
A short and sweet name used throughout the Middle East and globally. It is the plural of ‘munya’. Source: Arabic naming customs.
Mutiara
An elegant and popular name in Indonesia, reflecting the value and beauty of a pearl. Source: Indonesian naming databases.
My
A very short and popular Vietnamese name, often used as a middle name or as part of a compound name. Source: Vietnamese naming statistics.
Madoka
A gentle and traditional Japanese name, known for its pleasant sound and symbolic meanings of harmony or beauty. Source: Japanese cultural sources.
Madhuri
A classic name made famous by legendary Bollywood actress Madhuri Dixit, it evokes charm and grace. Source: Sanskrit language dictionaries.
Malak
A popular name in Arabic-speaking countries, used for girls to signify purity and innocence. Source: Islamic cultural references.
Malika
A regal and powerful name used widely across all Muslim-majority regions in Asia, from Morocco to Indonesia. Source: Arabic linguistic data.
Min-seo
A hugely popular modern Korean name, often ranking in the top 10 for baby girls in South Korea. Source: South Korean government statistics.
Mina
Used in many cultures with different meanings. In Persian it means “azure,” while in Sanskrit it relates to “fish.” Source: Cross-cultural linguistic analysis.
Mojgan
A classic and highly poetic Persian name that is considered very beautiful and romantic. Alternate spelling: Mozhgan. Source: Persian literature.
Mehwish
A popular and romantic name in Pakistan and among the Persian diaspora. Source: Urdu and Persian naming traditions.
Mawra
A modern and popular name in Pakistan, known through actress Mawra Hocane. Source: Contemporary Pakistani naming trends.
Midori
A classic Japanese nature name that evokes images of lush forests and vitality. Source: Japanese naming books.
Miyako
An elegant and old-fashioned name that has a sophisticated and classic feel. Source: Historical Japanese names.
Miyu
A very popular and sweet-sounding name for girls in Japan, with various lovely meanings depending on the kanji. Source: Japanese naming statistics.
Mohini
A name from Hindu mythology, referring to a celestial enchantress avatar of the god Vishnu. Source: Hindu religious texts.
Myung-hee
A traditional Korean name that combines two positive Sino-Korean characters for a virtuous meaning. Source: Korean naming conventions.
Manju
A sweet and gentle name of Sanskrit origin, popular throughout the Indian subcontinent. Source: Indian naming traditions.
Mandana
A historical Persian name belonging to the mother of Cyrus the Great, giving it a regal and ancient feel. Source: Ancient Persian history.
Maysa
An elegant Arabic name that suggests grace, confidence, and poise. Source: Arabic naming dictionaries.
Melike
A Turkish name of Arabic origin (from Malika), popular for its regal and powerful meaning. Source: Turkish naming data.
Mukta
A Sanskrit name with a dual meaning of a precious gem and spiritual freedom, making it a thoughtful choice. Source: Sanskrit dictionaries.
Maneerat
A Thai name signifying preciousness and beauty, often shortened to the nickname Manee. Source: Thai cultural naming practices.
Mali
A beautiful and simple name used in several Southeast Asian countries, including Thailand and Cambodia. A variant of Malee. Source: Southeast Asian linguistics.
Manami
A popular Japanese name that combines the characters for “love” (mana) and “beauty” (mi). Source: Japanese baby name trends.
Meena
A very common name across South Asia. In Sanskrit it refers to the zodiac sign Pisces and also means “gem” in Persian. Source: Cross-cultural name studies.
Murni
An Indonesian and Malay name derived from Sanskrit, valued for its meaning of purity and sincerity. Source: Malay and Indonesian dictionaries.
Masako
A traditional and formal-sounding Japanese name, famously borne by the current Empress of Japan. Source: Japanese imperial family history.
Mariko
A classic and once very popular Japanese name that evokes a feeling of authenticity and nature. Source: Japanese naming databases.
Mizuki
A poetic Japanese name that can be used for both girls and boys, though more common for girls. Source: Japanese art and literature.
Mehri
A warm and gentle Persian name derived from ‘Mehr’, which means sun, kindness, or love. Source: Zoroastrian and Persian traditions.
Mey
A short, strong, and popular name in Cambodia. Source: Cambodian naming practices.
Maha
A classic and popular Arabic name that praises a woman’s large, beautiful eyes, like those of an oryx. Source: Classic Arabic poetry.
Mahtab
A beautiful and luminous Persian name, similar in meaning to Mahnoor but with a slightly different nuance. Source: Persian literature.
Merpati
A unique and gentle Indonesian name that symbolizes peace and love. Source: Indonesian language sources.
Masoumeh
A name of great religious significance for Shia Muslims, referring to Fatimah al-Masumah. Alternate: Masoomeh. Source: Islamic historical figures.
Manushri
A lovely Sanskrit name that combines ‘Manu’ (human) with the honorific ‘Shri’, often associated with divinity. Source: Hindu naming traditions.
Miao
A chic and simple single-syllable Chinese name that is easy to pronounce. Source: Modern Chinese naming trends.
Mihira
A radiant and powerful name of Sanskrit origin, perfect for a child seen as a source of light and warmth. Source: Sanskrit linguistic analysis.
Moksha
A profound Sanskrit name from Hindu and Buddhist philosophy, representing the ultimate goal of spiritual release. Source: Indian philosophical texts.
Moe
A short and sweet name with two distinct origins and meanings, both tied to nature and growth. Source: Japanese and Burmese linguistic data.
Maliha
An Arabic name popular in South Asian Muslim communities for its elegant sound and meaning. Source: Urdu and Bengali naming customs.
Marwa
An important name in Islam, referring to one of the hills pilgrims travel between during the Hajj. Source: Islamic geography and tradition.
Mida
A less common but beautiful name from the Philippines with a positive and prosperous meaning. Source: Filipino vocabulary.
Mounira
A classic Arabic name that denotes brightness and intelligence. Alternate spelling: Munira. Source: Arabic naming dictionaries.
Mehreen
A name of Persian origin that has become very popular in South Asia. It evokes warmth and affection. Source: Contemporary naming trends in Pakistan.