This list includes 40 literary girl names that start with M, from “Madeline” to “Mélisande”. They range from classic characters to modern author-coined names, useful for parents and writers.

Literary girl names that start with M are female names drawn from novels, poetry, plays, and author inventions. Many are tied to memorable characters like Madeline or the symbolically mysterious Mélisande.

Below you’ll find the table with Name, Origin & Source, Pronunciation, and Meaning.

Name: The given literary name as used in the source; you can scan this column for inspiration and exact spelling.

Origin & Source: Shows the author, work, and language where the name appears so you can check literary context quickly.

Pronunciation: Simple phonetic respelling helps you say the name correctly and test how it sounds aloud.

Meaning & Significance: Explains etymology or literary importance to help you judge tone, symbolism, or cultural associations.

Literary girl names that start with M

Name Source/Origin Pronunciation Meaning Description
Meg Louisa May Alcott — Little Women; English MEG “pearl” (diminutive of Margaret) Eldest March sister, responsible and maternal; a grounded figure of family duty and kindness.
Maggie George Eliot — The Mill on the Floss; English MAG-ee “pearl” (diminutive of Margaret) Maggie Tulliver, passionate, intellectual protagonist torn between desire and social expectation.
Madeline Ludwig Bemelmans — Madeline; English/French MAD-uh-lin “woman of Magdala” / “tower” Brave little Paris schoolgirl, famous children’s-book heroine who faces adventure with wit and charm.
Mariana Alfred, Lord Tennyson — “Mariana”; English MAR-ee-AH-nə “of the sea” / “bitter” Tennyson’s isolated, yearning speaker waiting for a lost lover, symbolizing desolation and melancholy.
Marianne Jane Austen — Sense and Sensibility; English MAR-ee-AN combination of Mary + Anne; devotion Romantic, idealistic Dashwood sister who embodies emotion and youthful sincerity.
Miranda William Shakespeare — The Tempest; English mih-RAN-dah “admirable” / “wonderful” Prospero’s innocent daughter, emblem of wonder, compassion, and reconciliation in Shakespeare’s romance.
Mina Bram Stoker — Dracula; English MEE-nə “loveable” / “protector” Mina Harker, resourceful and brave heroine who helps organize resistance to Dracula’s menace.
Matilda Roald Dahl — Matilda; English muh-TIL-dah “mighty in battle” Clever, bookish child heroine with telekinetic powers who triumphs over cruel adults and injustice.
Mathilde Guy de Maupassant — “The Necklace” (La Parure); French mah-TEELD “mighty in battle” Protagonist whose vanity and pride lead to ironic tragedy in Maupassant’s realist tale.
Medea Euripides — Medea; Ancient Greek MEE-dee-uh “cunning” / “planner” Tragic sorceress who enacts a devastating revenge, central to Greek drama about love and justice.
Morgan Thomas Malory — Le Morte d’Arthur; English/Arthurian tradition MOR-gən “sea-born” (Celtic) Morgan le Fay, ambivalent enchantress: healer, schemer, and pivotal figure in Arthurian cycles.
Maud Alfred, Lord Tennyson — “Maud”; English MAWD “strength in battle” Title figure in Tennyson’s dramatic poem, associated with love, obsession, and melodrama.
Milly Charles Dickens — David Copperfield; English MIL-ee “strong in work” (diminutive of Millicent) Kind, steady friend; Dickensian figure noted for warmth and constancy.
Molly James Joyce — Ulysses; English/Irish MAH-lee “star of the sea” (diminutive of Mary) Molly Bloom, memorable stream-of-consciousness speaker representing sensuality, fidelity, and domestic life.
Mary Various — The Bible; Hebrew/Christian tradition MAIR-ee “bitter” / “beloved” Central biblical name used across literature in many guises — sacred, human, maternal, and symbolic.
Minerva J.K. Rowling — Harry Potter; English mih-NUR-vuh “wisdom” (Roman goddess name) Professor McGonagall: stern, wise witch and moral anchor in Rowling’s series.
Maeve Táin Bó Cúailnge — Irish epic; Old Irish MAYV “intoxicating” Queen Medb (Maeve), powerful, ambitious sovereign at center of Irish heroic epic and sovereignty myths.
Marmee Louisa May Alcott — Little Women; English MAHR-mee affectionate “mother” Warm, moral matriarch of the March family; a guiding, nurturing parental presence.
Maria William Shakespeare — Twelfth Night; English muh-REE-uh “sea of bitterness” / “beloved” Clever lady-in-waiting who aids comedic plots; common, versatile figure in many literary works.
May Edith Wharton — The Age of Innocence; English MAY “youthful” / month-name May Welland, emblem of social virtue and the constraining conventions of high society.
Myrtle F. Scott Fitzgerald — The Great Gatsby; English MUR-təl “evergreen plant” Myrtle Wilson, tragic and impulsive woman whose aspirations and infidelity highlight class tensions.
Marnie Winston Graham — Marnie; English MAR-nee uncertain; possibly from “Marne” Complex antiheroine involved in theft and identity, famously adapted by Hitchcock.
Mercy Arthur Miller — The Crucible; English MUR-see “compassion” Mercy Lewis, one of the afflicted girls whose accusations fuel Salem hysteria and manipulation.
Marya Leo Tolstoy — War and Peace; Russian MAHR-yah variant of Mary; “beloved” Marya (Maria) Bolkonskaya, gentle, pious woman who grows into emotional strength and family duty.
Minna Johann Wolfgang von Goethe — Wilhelm Meister’s Apprenticeship; German MIN-nah “love” (diminutive) Romantic interest figure, notable early novel character representing longing and practical devotion.
Margo John Green — Paper Towns; English MAR-go “pearl” (variant of Margaret) Elusive, enigmatic teen who challenges protagonist’s fantasies about identity and reality.
Minny Kathryn Stockett — The Help; English MIN-ee “beloved” (diminutive) Minny Jackson, outspoken domestic worker whose strength and wit drive key plot turns.
Milady Alexandre Dumas — The Three Musketeers; French MIL-ah-dee “my lady” (title) Milady de Winter, seductive and ruthless antagonist, central to Dumas’ intrigue and revenge themes.
Margaret William Shakespeare — Henry VI (and others); English MAR-gə-ret “pearl” Queen Margaret, fierce, tragic political figure appearing across Shakespeare’s history plays.
Miriam Various — The Bible; Hebrew/Jewish tradition MI-ree-əm “beloved” / “rebellious” Sister of Moses; name used in literature for strong, resilient women across traditions.
Melissa Edmund Spenser — The Faerie Queene; English muh-LIS-uh “honey bee” Wise, guiding figure in Spenser’s epic romance, often a healer and counselor.
Miette Victor Hugo — Les Misérables; French mee-ET “little crumb” (diminutive) Young street girl in Hugo’s Parisian panorama, representing poverty and fragile innocence.
Mélisande Maurice Maeterlinck — Pelléas and Mélisande; French MEH-lee-SAHND uncertain; possibly “strong worker” Mysterious, tragic heroine of symbolist drama, associated with fate and secrecy.
Morgause Thomas Malory — Le Morte d’Arthur; English/Arthurian tradition MOR-gawz uncertain (Celtic roots) Arthurian queen, mother to key knights; complex and politically significant character.
Margarita Mikhail Bulgakov — The Master and Margarita; Russian MAR-gah-REE-tah “pearl” Bold, supernatural heroine who makes a pact to rescue her lover; central to Bulgakov’s satire.
Marina William Shakespeare — Pericles; English muh-REE-nə “of the sea” Virtuous daughter who survives separation and trials, embodying endurance and purity.
Marilla L.M. Montgomery — Anne of Green Gables; English muh-RIL-ə variant of Mary; “bitter” Stern but loving guardian who raises and shapes Anne with moral firmness and warmth.
Maisie Jacqueline Winspear — Maisie Dobbs; English MAY-see diminutive of Margaret/May Veteran-turned-detective protagonist known for empathy, intelligence, and moral inquiry.
Mignon Johann Wolfgang von Goethe — Wilhelm Meister’s Apprenticeship; German MEE-nyon “darling” / “cute” Enigmatic, poetic young performer who embodies longing, melancholy, and Romantic mystery.
Masha Anton Chekhov — Three Sisters; Russian MAH-shah diminutive of Maria Discontented sister yearning for a fuller life; a central figure in Chekhov’s drama about hope and inertia.

Descriptions

Meg
Maggie
Madeline
Mariana
Marianne
Miranda
Mina
Matilda
Mathilde
Medea
Morgan
Maud
Milly
Molly
Mary
Minerva
Maeve
Marmee
Maria
May
Myrtle
Marnie
Mercy
Marya
Minna
Margo
Minny
Milady
Margaret
Miriam
Melissa
Miette
Mélisande
Morgause
Margarita
Marina
Marilla
Maisie
Mignon
Masha
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