This page brings together 101 female names that start with the letter M, running alphabetically from “Mary” all the way to “Minnie.” You’ll find timeless classics, modern favorites, and rare gems from many languages and cultures. Parents use lists like this to find the perfect name for a baby, while writers, students, and curious readers explore the stories behind each one.
Female names are the given names traditionally used to identify girls and women, often chosen for their sound, heritage, or special meaning. Many carry rich histories, like “Mary,” which traces back to the biblical mother of Jesus and remains one of the most enduring names in the Western world.
Below you’ll find the table with Name, Origin, Meaning, Famous Namesakes, and Description.
Name: This shows you the female name itself, listed alphabetically so you can quickly scan and find the exact one you’re looking for.
Origin: This tells you the language or culture a name comes from, helping you understand its roots and connect it to a heritage you love.
Meaning: This explains what the name actually means, so you can choose one whose sense and feeling truly match what you want.
Famous Namesakes: This lists well-known people who share the name, giving you real examples and a sense of the personality it carries.
Description: This gives you a short, friendly overview of each name’s style, history, and charm, making your choice easier and more informed.
Female names
| Name | Origin | Meaning | Famous Namesakes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mary | Hebrew | Bitter, beloved, or wished-for child | Mary Shelley, Mary J. Blige, Mary Queen of Scots |
| Margaret | Greek | Pearl | Margaret Thatcher, Margaret Atwood, Princess Margaret |
| Maria | Latin/Hebrew | Bitter or beloved | Maria Callas, Maria Sharapova, Maria Montessori |
| Margot | French | Pearl | Margot Robbie, Margot Fonteyn |
| Madison | English | Son of Matthew | Madison Beer, Madison Keys |
| Mia | Italian/Scandinavian | Mine; or a short form of Maria | Mia Farrow, Mia Hamm |
| Maya | Sanskrit/Hebrew | Illusion; or water | Maya Angelou, Maya Rudolph |
| Mila | Slavic | Gracious, dear | Mila Kunis, Mila Jovovich |
| Megan | Welsh | Pearl | Megan Fox, Megan Thee Stallion, Meghan Markle |
| Melissa | Greek | Honeybee | Melissa McCarthy, Melissa Etheridge |
| Michelle | French | Who is like God? | Michelle Obama, Michelle Pfeiffer, Michelle Yeoh |
| Monica | Latin | Advisor or counselor | Monica Bellucci, Monica Seles, Monica Lewinsky |
| Molly | Irish/English | Star of the sea (a form of Mary) | Molly Ringwald, Molly Shannon |
| Maggie | English | Pearl (a form of Margaret) | Maggie Smith, Maggie Gyllenhaal |
| Mabel | Latin | Lovable | Mabel (singer), Mabel Normand |
| Madeline | French | From Magdala | Madeline Kahn |
| Marie | French | Bitter or beloved (a form of Mary) | Marie Curie, Marie Antoinette |
| Martha | Aramaic | Lady or mistress of the house | Martha Stewart, Martha Graham |
| Mariah | Hebrew | Bitter or beloved (a form of Mary) | Mariah Carey |
| Marilyn | English | Combination of Mary and Lyn | Marilyn Monroe, Marilyn Manson (stage) |
| Maeve | Irish | She who intoxicates | Maeve Binchy |
| Mallory | French | Unlucky or ill-fated | Mallory (Family Ties character) |
| Marlene | German | Blend of Maria and Magdalene | Marlene Dietrich |
| Marina | Latin | Of the sea | Marina Abramovic, Marina (singer) |
| Marjorie | French | Pearl; or the marjoram herb | Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings |
| Matilda | German | Mighty in battle | Matilda (Roald Dahl), Empress Matilda |
| Maureen | Irish | Star of the sea (a form of Mary) | Maureen O’Hara, Maureen Lipman |
| Maxine | Latin | Greatest | Maxine Waters, Maxine Nightingale |
| May | English | The month of May; or a form of Mary | May Sarton |
| Maya | Greek | Mother; great | Maya Angelou, Maya Lin |
| Melanie | Greek | Dark, black | Melanie Griffith, Melanie C (Spice Girls) |
| Melody | Greek | Song, music | Melody Thomas Scott |
| Mercedes | Spanish | Mercies (from Our Lady of Mercies) | Mercedes Ruehl, Mercedes McCambridge |
| Meredith | Welsh | Great lord or great ruler | Meredith Vieira, Meredith Grey (character) |
| Mildred | English | Gentle strength | Mildred Pierce (character) |
| Miranda | Latin | Worthy of admiration | Miranda Kerr, Miranda Hart, Miranda Cosgrove |
| Miriam | Hebrew | Beloved or wished-for child | Miriam Makeba |
| Miranda | Latin | Admirable | Carmen Miranda |
| Misty | English | Covered in mist | Misty Copeland |
| Maya | Hebrew | Water | Maya Jama |
| Maddison | English | Son of Matthew | Maddison (various) |
| Marcella | Latin | Young warrior | Marcella (TV series) |
| Marian | Latin | Combination of Mary and Ann | Marian Anderson |
| Maribel | Spanish | Combination of Maria and Isabel | Maribel Verdu |
| Marcia | Latin | Dedicated to Mars | Marcia Cross, Marcia Gay Harden |
| Marsha | Latin | Dedicated to Mars | Marsha P. Johnson |
| Marlee | English | Meadow near the lake | Marlee Matlin |
| Marnie | Hebrew | Rejoice; or from the sea | Marnie (Hitchcock film) |
| Marta | Latin/Aramaic | Lady (a form of Martha) | Marta (footballer) |
| Matilda | German | Battle-mighty | Matilda Ledger |
| Maud | German | Mighty in battle (a form of Matilda) | Maud Lewis |
| Maxwell | Scottish | Great stream | Maxwell (various) |
| Maya | Roman | Goddess of spring | Maya Hawke |
| Mckenna | Irish | Son of Cinaed (born of fire) | McKenna Grace |
| Mckenzie | Scottish | Son of Coinneach (comely) | Mackenzie Davis, Mackenzie Foy |
| Melina | Greek | Honey | Melina Mercouri |
| Melinda | Latin | Sweet; or blend of Melanie and Linda | Melinda Gates |
| Melody | Greek | Sweet song | Melody Gardot |
| Mercy | English | Compassion, forgiveness | Mercy (various) |
| Meredith | Welsh | Great ruler | Meredith Monk |
| Mireille | French | To admire | Mireille Mathieu, Mireille Enos |
| Moira | Irish | Star of the sea; or fate | Moira Kelly, Moira Rose (character) |
| Mona | Irish | Noble; or solitary | Mona Lisa (subject) |
| Morgan | Welsh | Sea circle; bright sea | Morgan Fairchild, Morgane |
| Muriel | Irish/Scottish | Bright sea | Muriel Spark |
| Myra | Latin | Possibly fragrant oil; coined by a poet | Myra Hess |
| Myrna | Irish | Beloved; tender | Myrna Loy |
| Madonna | Italian | My lady | Madonna (singer) |
| Magdalena | Hebrew | From Magdala | Magdalena Neuner |
| Maja | Scandinavian/Slavic | Splendid; or a form of Maria | Maja Salvador |
| Malia | Hawaiian | Calm; or a form of Mary | Malia Obama |
| Manon | French | Bitter (a French form of Marie) | Manon (opera heroine) |
| Mara | Hebrew | Bitter | Mara Wilson, Rooney Mara |
| Marcella | Latin | Warlike; dedicated to Mars | Marcella Hazan |
| Margarita | Spanish | Pearl; or daisy | Margarita Levieva |
| Margaux | French | Pearl (a French variant of Margaret) | Margaux Hemingway |
| Marian | Latin | Of Mary | Marian Keyes |
| Mariana | Latin | Combination of Maria and Ana | Mariana Pajon |
| Maribel | Spanish | Beautiful Mary | Maribel Guardia |
| Marigold | English | Golden flower (Mary’s gold) | Marigold (various) |
| Marisa | Latin | Of the sea (a form of Maria) | Marisa Tomei |
| Marisol | Spanish | Sun and sea (Maria + Sol) | Marisol Nichols |
| Maritza | Spanish | Of the sea (a form of Maria) | Maritza (various) |
| Marlowe | English | Driftwood; remnants of a lake | Marlowe (various) |
| Maud | German | Battle-mighty | Maud Adams |
| Mavis | English | Songthrush (a bird) | Mavis Staples |
| Maxima | Latin | Greatest | Queen Maxima of the Netherlands |
| Maya | Mayan | Associated with the Maya civilization | Maya Moore |
| Mckayla | Irish | Who is like God? (a form of Michaela) | McKayla Maroney |
| Medea | Greek | Cunning; to ponder | Medea (mythology) |
| Melba | English | From Melbourne | Nellie Melba |
| Mercedes | Spanish | Our Lady of Mercies | Mercedes Sosa |
| Meryl | English | Bright sea (a form of Muriel) | Meryl Streep |
| Mireya | Spanish | To admire (a form of Mireille) | Mireya Moscoso |
| Modesty | Latin | Modest, without conceit | Modesty Blaise (character) |
| Monique | French | Advisor (a French form of Monica) | Monique (actress) |
| Morwenna | Welsh/Cornish | Maiden; waves of the sea | Morwenna (Poldark character) |
| Muriel | Celtic | Bright sea | Muriel Pavlow |
| Mya | Burmese/American | Emerald; or a form of Mia | Mya (singer) |
| Myla | English | Merciful; or a blend name | Myla (various) |
| Minnie | English | Of the sea; or a pet form of Wilhelmina | Minnie Driver, Minnie Riperton |
Descriptions
Mary
One of the most enduring female names in the Western world, rooted in the biblical mother of Jesus. It has countless variations across languages and cultures.
Margaret
A classic, dignified name that has produced beloved nicknames like Maggie, Meg, Peggy, and Greta. It stayed popular among royalty and writers alike.
Maria
A widely used international form of Mary, common across Spanish, Italian, German, and Slavic cultures. It pairs easily with second names like Ana-Maria.
Margot
A chic French diminutive of Margaret that has surged in popularity thanks to film stars. It feels both vintage and effortlessly modern.
Madison
Originally a surname, it became a hugely popular American girls’ name after the 1984 film Splash. It is often shortened to Maddie.
Mia
A short, sweet name that became a global favorite in the 2000s. It works in many languages and carries a warm, affectionate feel.
Maya
A cross-cultural name with meanings in Sanskrit, Hebrew, and Greek mythology. Its simplicity and lyrical sound make it widely loved.
Mila
A bright, compact Slavic name that has climbed charts worldwide. It is often linked to the longer names Milena and Ludmila.
Megan
A Welsh pet form of Margaret that became a standalone favorite, especially in the 1990s. The spelling Meghan is also common.
Melissa
A sweet, nature-inspired Greek name tied to honey and bees. It was popular in the late 20th century and shortens to Mel or Missy.
Michelle
The French feminine form of Michael, made iconic partly by The Beatles’ song. It peaked mid-century and remains widely admired.
Monica
A timeless name carried by Saint Monica, mother of Saint Augustine. It feels classic yet approachable across many cultures.
Molly
A friendly, down-to-earth pet form of Mary that became a beloved name in its own right. It has a wholesome, Irish charm.
Maggie
A warm, spunky short form of Margaret that stands proudly on its own. It carries a homey, approachable feel.
Mabel
A vintage charmer derived from “amabilis,” meaning lovable. It has enjoyed a strong revival among parents seeking old-fashioned names.
Madeline
An elegant name tied to Mary Magdalene and immortalized by the beloved children’s book heroine. Spellings like Madeleine and Madelyn abound.
Marie
The French form of Mary, frequently used as a middle name. It carries history, grace, and a touch of romance.
Martha
A biblical name belonging to the sister of Mary and Lazarus. It conveys hospitality, capability, and quiet strength.
Mariah
A melodic variant of Mary made famous by the pop diva. It feels both classic and glamorous.
Marilyn
A glamorous mid-century blend forever linked to Hollywood icon Marilyn Monroe. It evokes vintage charm and star power.
Maeve
A bold Irish name borne by a legendary warrior queen of Connacht. It has surged in popularity for its strength and lyrical sound.
Mallory
Originally a surname meaning unfortunate, it shed its grim roots to become a fresh, modern girls’ name. It feels sporty and contemporary.
Marlene
A sophisticated German name made famous by the legendary actress Marlene Dietrich. It carries old-world glamour.
Marina
A graceful, oceanic name popular across Europe and Latin America. It conjures images of harbors, water, and serenity.
Marjorie
A vintage name related to Margaret with a soft, herbal twist. It has a cozy, mid-century warmth.
Matilda
A strong, regal name borne by medieval queens and a famous fictional bookworm. It shortens charmingly to Tilly or Mattie.
Maureen
An Irish diminutive of Mary that flourished in the early 20th century. It has a warm, classic appeal.
Maxine
A bold feminine form of Maximilian meaning greatest. It feels vintage yet sassy, often shortened to Max.
May
A breezy, springtime name tied to the month and to blossoming flowers. It is light, simple, and sweet.
Maya
Linked to the Greek goddess Maia and the month of May. Its layered meanings give it depth and global appeal.
Melanie
A graceful Greek name evoking dark beauty. It rose to fame partly through Gone with the Wind’s gentle character.
Melody
A musical, lyrical name meaning a sweet succession of sounds. It is cheerful, artistic, and easy to love.
Mercedes
A Spanish name rooted in a Marian title and shared with the luxury car brand. It carries elegance and devotion.
Meredith
A Welsh name that crossed from boys to girls, now firmly feminine. It feels intelligent, polished, and professional.
Mildred
An Old English name combining mildness and power. Once hugely popular, it now carries a quaint, vintage charm.
Miranda
Coined by Shakespeare for The Tempest, it means admirable. It feels graceful, literary, and timelessly appealing.
Miriam
The original Hebrew form of Mary, borne by the sister of Moses. It is rich in heritage and spiritual depth.
Miranda
A name radiating admiration and grace, popularized by literature and screen. It pairs beautifully with many surnames.
Misty
A soft, atmospheric name evoking morning fog. It has a dreamy, romantic 1970s-era feel.
Maya
A serene name meaning water in some traditions. Its short, vowel-rich sound makes it globally adaptable.
Maddison
A spelling variant of Madison that softens the surname-turned-given-name. It is youthful and modern.
Marcella
A feminine form of Marcellus with martial roots. It feels refined and softly Italian.
Marian
A classic blended name with religious resonance, famous from Maid Marian. It is gentle and traditional.
Maribel
A pretty Spanish blend of two beloved names. It is melodic and warmly feminine.
Marcia
A classic Roman-rooted name meaning warlike. It feels mid-century, friendly, and approachable.
Marsha
A phonetic variant of Marcia popular in the 20th century. It carries a soft, familiar charm.
Marlee
A breezy, modern name with pastoral roots. It feels fresh, light, and youthful.
Marnie
A delicate, vintage name with a slightly mysterious air. It gained recognition through Hitchcock’s thriller.
Marta
The international form of Martha, common across Europe and Latin America. It is strong, simple, and elegant.
Matilda
A regal, spirited name with deep historical roots. Its revival owes much to literary and royal namesakes.
Maud
A short, sturdy Victorian-era name with quiet dignity. It has an antique, poetic quality.
Maxwell
Though traditionally masculine, it occasionally appears for girls seeking a bold, surname-style name. It shortens to Max.
Maya
Tied to the Roman fertility goddess and the month of May. It is warm, lush, and life-affirming.
Mckenna
A modern surname-style name with fiery Gaelic roots. It feels spirited and contemporary.
Mckenzie
A trendy unisex-leaning name now popular for girls. It carries a sporty, fresh energy.
Melina
A sweet Greek name tied to honey and dark beauty. It is graceful and softly exotic.
Melinda
A gentle blended name with a honeyed feel. It shortens warmly to Mindy or Mel.
Melody
A musical, joyful name beloved for its lyrical meaning. It suits creative, expressive personalities.
Mercy
A virtue name expressing kindness and grace. Once Puritan, it now feels tender and meaningful.
Meredith
A polished Welsh name conveying leadership and warmth. It transitioned gracefully to a girls’ name.
Mireille
A lyrical French name with Provencal roots meaning to admire. It is elegant and poetic.
Moira
An anglicized Irish form of Mary, also tied to the Greek Fates. It is graceful with a touch of drama.
Mona
A short, elegant name with multiple cultural meanings. It evokes the famous Renaissance portrait.
Morgan
A strong, watery Welsh name famous from Arthurian legend’s Morgan le Fay. It works beautifully for girls.
Muriel
A vintage Celtic name meaning bright sea. It has an old-world, literary charm.
Myra
A graceful name invented by a 17th-century poet. It is smooth, refined, and timeless.
Myrna
A soft Gaelic name that flourished in Hollywood’s golden age. It feels gentle and vintage.
Madonna
An Italian title for the Virgin Mary, also a global pop icon’s name. It carries reverence and boldness.
Magdalena
A rich, romantic form of Magdalene popular in Spanish and German cultures. It shortens to Magda or Lena.
Maja
A bright, breezy name common in Scandinavia and Eastern Europe. It is simple yet luminous.
Malia
A sunny Hawaiian form of Mary meaning calm waters. It gained fame through the Obama family.
Manon
A chic French name beloved for its soft, romantic sound. It stars in classic French opera and literature.
Mara
A short, evocative biblical name and a variant of Mary. It is striking and minimalist.
Marcella
A refined feminine form of Marcellus. It carries Italian elegance and strength.
Margarita
The Spanish form of Margaret, also a daisy and a cocktail. It is festive and pretty.
Margaux
A stylish French spelling of Margot tied to fine Bordeaux wine. It oozes sophistication.
Marian
A devotional name blending Mary and Anne. It feels classic, gentle, and literary.
Mariana
A flowing Latin name popular across the Spanish-speaking world. It is graceful and feminine.
Maribel
A warm Spanish blend meaning beautiful Mary. It is cheerful and melodic.
Marigold
A radiant floral name evoking bright orange blossoms. It feels whimsical and vintage.
Marisa
A lovely Italian-Spanish elaboration of Maria. It is soft, sunny, and elegant.
Marisol
A radiant Spanish name blending sea and sun. It is bright, warm, and poetic.
Maritza
A vibrant Latin American name rooted in Maria. It is lively and distinctive.
Marlowe
A literary surname-style name with a cool, modern edge. It nods to playwright Christopher Marlowe.
Maud
A compact, antique form of Matilda. It carries Victorian poise and strength.
Mavis
A cheerful vintage name meaning songbird. It has a quirky, retro charm.
Maxima
A regal feminine name meaning greatest, borne by a Dutch queen. It is bold and majestic.
Maya
A name resonant across many cultures, including the ancient Maya. It is timeless and globally beloved.
Mckayla
A modern American spelling of Michaela. It feels fresh and energetic.
Medea
A dramatic name from Greek myth’s powerful sorceress. It is bold and steeped in legend.
Melba
A vintage name linked to opera star Nellie Melba and the dessert peach Melba. It is sweet and old-fashioned.
Mercedes
A devotional Spanish name evoking compassion. It is elegant and richly cultural.
Meryl
A refined name immortalized by the acclaimed actress. It feels polished and intelligent.
Mireya
A graceful Spanish name meaning admired. It is soft and lyrical.
Modesty
A virtue name expressing humility, with a hint of vintage flair. It is rare and intriguing.
Monique
A chic French elaboration of Monica. It is sophisticated and worldly.
Morwenna
A lyrical Celtic name tied to the sea and maidenhood. It feels enchanting and rare.
Muriel
A gentle Celtic name evoking shining waters. It has a soft, antique elegance.
Mya
A sleek modern name with multiple cultural roots. It is simple, fresh, and stylish.
Myla
A trendy, gentle modern name with a soft sound. It feels contemporary and sweet.
Minnie
A playful diminutive made famous by Minnie Mouse. It is cheerful and endearing.