This list includes 66 Pretty girl names that start with M, from “Amanda” to “Myrtle”. It mixes classic favorites, literary names, and international choices that suit a variety of tastes.
Pretty girl names that start with M are names given to girls that begin with the letter M. Several, like “Maya” and “Maria”, have deep roots across cultures and long histories of use.
Below you’ll find the table with Name, Origin, Pronunciation and Meaning.
Name: The given name itself, shown so you can scan entries quickly and pick favorites at a glance.
Origin: The language or country where the name comes from, helping you understand cultural background and associations.
Pronunciation: A simple phonetic guide (and occasional IPA) so you can say each name correctly and confidently.
Meaning: A concise definition that explains the name’s original sense or symbolism to help compare options quickly.
Pretty girl names that start with M
| Name | Origin | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mabel | English | MAY-bəl | lovable (from Latin amabilis) |
| Madeline | English/French | MAD-ə-lin | of Magdala (from Magdalene) |
| Madeleine | French | MAD-lən | of Magdala (from Magdalene) |
| Madison | English | MAD-ih-sən | son of Maud (surname-turned-given name) |
| Mae | English | MAY | month name; from goddess Maia |
| Maeve | Irish | MAYV | intoxicating (from Gaelic Méabh) |
| Maggie | English | MAG-ee | pearl (diminutive of Margaret) |
| Magnolia | Latin | mag-NOH-lee-ə | magnolia tree; flower |
| Malia | Hawaiian | mah-LEE-ah | Hawaiian form of Mary |
| Mallory | Old French | muh-LOR-ee | unlucky (from malheureux roots) |
| Amanda | Latin | uh-MAN-də | worthy of love (from amandus) |
| Amelia | Germanic | uh-MEE-lee-ə | work (from Germanic amal) |
| Maren | Scandinavian | MAIR-en | Danish form of Maria |
| Margaret | Greek | MAR-gə-rit | pearl (from Greek margarites) |
| Margot | French | mar-GOH | pearl (diminutive of Marguerite) |
| Marguerite | French | mar-gə-REET | pearl (French form of Margaret) |
| Maria | Latin/Hebrew | mah-REE-ə | form of Mary (from Hebrew Miriam) |
| Mariana | Spanish | mar-ee-AH-nah | combination of Maria and Ana |
| Marigold | English | MAIR-ee-gohld | golden flower; ‘Mary’s gold’ |
| Maribel | Spanish | mar-ee-BEL | combination of Maria and Isabel |
| Marisol | Spanish | mah-ree-SOHL | from María de la Soledad (Mary of solitude) |
| Marina | Latin | mah-REE-nah | of the sea (from marinus) |
| Mariam | Hebrew | mah-REE-əm | Hebrew form of Mary (origin debated) |
| Mariella | Italian | mar-ee-EL-ə | diminutive of Maria; ‘little Mary’ |
| Marisa | Spanish/Italian | mah-REE-sah | combination of Maria and Isabel |
| Maritza | Spanish | mah-REET-sah | diminutive of Maria |
| Marta | Aramaic | MAR-tah | lady; mistress (from Aramaic marta) |
| Martina | Latin | mar-TEE-nah | feminine of Martin; ‘of Mars, warlike’ |
| Matilda | Germanic | mə-TIL-də | battle-mighty (from maht + hild) |
| Maxine | French/Latin | mak-SEEN | feminine of Maximus; ‘greatest’ |
| Maya | Sanskrit/Hebrew/Greek | MAY-ə | illusion (Sanskrit); variant of Maia (Greek) |
| Mia | Italian/Scandinavian | MEE-ə | mine; short form of Maria |
| Michelle | French | mi-SHELL | who is like God (feminine of Michael) |
| Milena | Slavic | mi-LEH-nah | gracious, dear (from Slavic mil) |
| Mila | Slavic | MEE-lah | gracious, dear (short form of Milena) |
| Mirabel | Latin | MIR-uh-bel | wonderful (from mirabilis) |
| Miranda | Latin | mi-RAN-də | admirable; wondrous (from mirandus) |
| Miriam | Hebrew | mee-REE-əm | Hebrew form of Mary; origin debated |
| Mira | Slavic/Sanskrit/Latin | MEE-rah | peace (Slavic); Sanskrit ‘ocean’; Latin ‘wonder’ |
| Moira | Irish | MOY-ra | Irish form of Mary |
| Morgan | Welsh | MOR-gan | sea-born; sea circle (from mor + gen) |
| Morgana | Welsh | mor-GAH-nah | feminine of Morgan; ‘sea-born’ |
| Moriah | Hebrew | mo-REE-ə | biblical place name; etymology debated |
| Myra | English | MY-rah | possibly ‘myrrh’ (probable coinage) |
| Myrtle | English | MUR-təl | myrtle plant (symbolic evergreen) |
| Myrna | Irish | MUR-nah | from Muirne; ‘beloved’ |
| Maude | Germanic | MAWD | variant of Matilda; ‘mighty in battle’ |
| Magdalena | Greek/Latin | mag-də-LEE-nah | of Magdala (from Magdalene) |
| Marcella | Latin | mar-SELL-ah | feminine of Marcellus; ‘young warrior’ |
| Marlene | German | mar-LEEN | blend of Maria and Helene |
| Maris | Latin | MAR-is | of the sea (from maris)” |
| Marjorie | English | mar-JOR-ee | variant of Margaret; ‘pearl’ |
| Marley | English | MAR-lee | pleasant wood or boundary meadow (Old English origin) |
| Mattea | Italian | mah-TEH-ah | gift of God (feminine of Matteo) |
| Meadow | English | MED-oh | meadow; grassy field |
| Melody | Greek/English | MEL-uh-dee | song (from Greek melos ‘song’)” |
| Melissa | Greek | muh-LIS-ə | honeybee (from Greek melissa) |
| Melina | Greek | meh-LEE-nah | honey (from Greek meli) or ‘little honey’ |
| Melinda | Greek/English | meh-LIN-dah | honey; sweet (compound of mel- + -inda) |
| Mercy | Latin/Old French | MER-see | compassion; mercy (from Old French merci) |
| Minerva | Latin | mi-NUR-və | Roman goddess of wisdom |
| Mina | Germanic/Persian/Arabic | MEE-nə | short form of Wilhelmina; Persian ‘enamel’ or Arabic ‘wishes’ |
| Minna | Germanic | MIN-ə | diminutive of Wilhelmina; ‘resolute protection’ |
| Moana | Polynesian | moh-AH-nah | ocean (Maori/Tahitian) |
| Mona | Irish/Arabic | MOH-nah | little noble (Irish); wish/desire (Arabic) |
| Mairead | Irish | MAW-rayd | Irish form of Margaret; ‘pearl’ |
Descriptions
Mabel
Victorian-era favorite revived in modern use, means “lovable” and appears in historical name dictionaries (BehindTheName).
Madeline
Classic, English form of Madeleine; biblical association with Mary Magdalene, popular in literature and baby-name lists (SSA/BehindTheName).
Madeleine
French spelling often seen in Europe and English-speaking countries; elegant, literary connotations (BehindTheName).
Madison
Originally an English surname, widely adopted for girls in the U.S. since the 1990s (SSA).
Mae
Short, sweet name used as both given name and nickname; evokes spring and the Roman goddess Maia (BehindTheName).
Maeve
Ancient Irish queen in mythology; regained popularity for its strong, lyrical sound (BehindTheName).
Maggie
Originally a diminutive of Margaret, now often used as a standalone friendly name (SSA/BehindTheName).
Magnolia
Botanical name used as a floral choice; evokes Southern charm and vintage style (BehindTheName).
Malia
Popular Hawaiian/English form associated with Mary; used widely in the U.S. and Pacific regions (BehindTheName).
Mallory
Medieval surname with literary use; adopted as a feminine given name in English (BehindTheName).
Amanda
A popular 20th-century name from Latin, means “worthy of love” and remains familiar internationally (BehindTheName/SSA).
Amelia
Timeless and fashionable, from Germanic roots meaning “work” or “industrious” (SSA/BehindTheName).
Maren
Nordic variant of Maria, stylish and concise; used across Scandinavia and beyond (BehindTheName).
Margaret
Classic name with many nicknames and long historical use; etymologically “pearl” (Oxford/BehindTheName).
Margot
Chic French diminutive of Margaret, associated with actresses and literary figures (BehindTheName).
Marguerite
French form that also names a daisy; elegant and vintage (BehindTheName).
Maria
Internationally widespread form of Mary with biblical and cultural resonance (Oxford/BehindTheName).
Mariana
Common in Spanish and Latin cultures; long, melodic form often seen in compound names (BehindTheName).
Marigold
Floral name revived in recent naming trends; vintage yet whimsical (BehindTheName).
Maribel
Spanish blend name meaning a form of “beautiful Mary”; used in Hispanic communities (BehindTheName).
Marisol
Spanish devotional name often interpreted in modern times as “sea and sun” (BehindTheName).
Marina
Classic maritime name used across Europe, evokes the sea and Roman roots (BehindTheName).
Mariam
Variant of Miriam/Mary used in many languages and cultures; biblical resonance (BehindTheName).
Mariella
Italianate, melodic diminutive of Maria, popular in several European countries (BehindTheName).
Marisa
Sleek, modern-sounding contraction common in Romance-language contexts (BehindTheName).
Maritza
Spanish diminutive with lively sound, used in Latin America and Spain (BehindTheName).
Marta
Classic form of Martha/Mary in many languages; concise and familiar (BehindTheName).
Martina
Feminine form of Martin with a strong, classic feel; used in Europe and Latin America (BehindTheName).
Matilda
Historic and literary name that has seen modern revival for its spunky sound (BehindTheName).
Maxine
Short, bold feminine form of Maximus; vintage 20th-century flair (BehindTheName).
Maya
Multicultural name with varied meanings across languages; widely used and easy to pronounce (BehindTheName).
Mia
Short, internationally popular name; simple and widely used (SSA/BehindTheName).
Michelle
Popular in French and English-speaking countries, peaked in late 20th century (SSA/BehindTheName).
Milena
Elegant Slavic name rising in international usage; warm, melodic sound (BehindTheName).
Mila
Short, modern-sounding name that has grown rapidly in popularity (SSA/BehindTheName).
Mirabel
Vintage-sounding, literary name meaning “wonderful”; used in several European languages (BehindTheName).
Miranda
Shakespearean name (The Tempest), elegant and familiar in English (Oxford/BehindTheName).
Miriam
Biblical name with ancient roots; various proposed meanings including “beloved” and “bitterness” (BehindTheName).
Mira
Short, international name with multiple independent origins and pleasant sound (BehindTheName).
Moira
Traditional Irish form of Mary, used in Gaelic contexts and English-speaking countries (BehindTheName).
Morgan
Originally a Welsh surname and male name, commonly used for girls with maritime meaning (BehindTheName).
Morgana
Feminine form associated with Arthurian legend (Morgana le Fay); mystical and literary (BehindTheName).
Moriah
Biblical place (Mount Moriah); used as a given name with religious resonance (BehindTheName).
Myra
Likely coined in the 17th–18th centuries, often linked to myrrh; literary and vintage feel (BehindTheName).
Myrtle
Victorian botanical name that conveys vintage charm and natural imagery (BehindTheName).
Myrna
Modern Anglicized form of Irish Muirne; uncommon but established (BehindTheName).
Maude
Medieval name that was popular in the late 19th/early 20th centuries; strong, vintage tone (BehindTheName).
Magdalena
Long biblical form related to Mary Magdalene; used in many European languages (BehindTheName).
Marcella
Roman-rooted feminine form with classical resonance; used in Italian and English contexts (BehindTheName).
Marlene
20th-century blended name (Maria + Helene) popularized in German and English-speaking countries (BehindTheName).
Maris
Short Latin name meaning “of the sea”; sleek and uncommon, used in English and Romance languages (BehindTheName).
Marjorie
Medieval English form of Margaret; familiar vintage name with literary use (BehindTheName).
Marley
Originally a surname, now a popular given name with a laid-back sound (BehindTheName).
Mattea
Italian feminine form of Matthew/Matteo; used in Italy and increasingly internationally (BehindTheName).
Meadow
Nature name that has seen growing use in English-speaking countries; pastoral and modern (BehindTheName).
Melody
Musical virtue/name choice popular with creative parents; straightforward meaning (BehindTheName).
Melissa
Ancient Greek mythological name that has enjoyed long-term popularity (BehindTheName).
Melina
Graceful Greek name derived from meli meaning “honey,” used across Europe (BehindTheName).
Melinda
Coined in the 18th–19th centuries, familiar vintage-modern hybrid (BehindTheName).
Mercy
Virtue name used historically and in modern times; concise and meaningful (BehindTheName).
Minerva
Classical mythological name with intellectual connotations; rare but distinctive (BehindTheName).
Mina
Multicultural name with several independent origins and clear short form usage (BehindTheName).
Minna
Short traditional Germanic name that has independent use as a given name (BehindTheName).
Moana
Polynesian word-name meaning “ocean,” popularized in global culture (BehindTheName).
Mona
Multicultural name with distinct meanings depending on origin; short and classic (BehindTheName).
Mairead
Traditional Irish form of Margaret, pronounced MAW-rayd and used widely in Gaelic contexts (BehindTheName).