Baby Girl Names That Begin With M

Classic, Popular, and Unusual Female Name Choices

Feb 3, 2008

A Cute Little Girl, Laura Ashly, Morguefile.com

Mary? Madison? Magdalena? Here are some beautiful names that start with the letter M.

Popular baby girl names that begin with the letter M are easy to find. According to the U.S. Social Security Baby Name Index, 12 out of the top 100 baby names on the popularity list began with the letter M in 2006. If you're looking for a trendy, classic, or unusual name that begins with the letter M, here are some great choices.

Popular & Trendy Baby Girl Names That Begin With M

Madison. No one ever heard of this name before the 1990s, but Madison has quickly become one of the most trendy names of the 2000s-- at #3 in 2006. Its popularity may be due to the place-name craze, or perhaps in part because of the mermaid in the 1984 movie Splash. In any case, expect to meet lots of little girls named Madison at the playground-- for now, at least, until the trend dies down.
Madeline. Parents in search of an alternative to Madison have been going with the more classic Madeline-- but now Madeline is climbing the charts as well, at #71 in 2006. Madeline originates from a Hebrew place name.
Mia & Maya. These similar names have leapt up the name chart in recent years-- Mia to #13 and Maya to #57. Mia is related to the Biblical name Miriam and means "wished for child." Maya comes from a Greek expression that means "great."
Makayla, McKenna, Makenna, & Mackenzie. The Mc names took off in the 1990s and are still quite trendy. At #45, Makayla is the most trendy. This odd spelling of a feminine form of Michael-- Michaela-- seems to have attached itself to the Kayla trend. Mackenzie is also very popular at #53, and McKenna/Makenna seem to be up-and-coming.
Morgan. Watch out, Taylor! Morgan is gunning for the title of top androgynous last-name-turned-first-name. It ranked at #35 in 2006. Morgan comes from a Gaelic name that means "circling sea".
Megan. Megan isn't the top-10 superstar it was in the 1980s and 1990s, but it's hanging in there at #60. Megan comes from a Welsh name that means "pearl."
Melanie. This Gone With the Wind name has been moderately popular since the 1970s and ranked at #83 in 2006. Melanie comes from a Greek name that means "dark-complected." Melaina is a less common variation.
Mariah. Although names that are commonly associated with one person typically don't become very popular, Ms. Carey's name is an exception. At #81 in 2006, Mariah is especially popular among African Americans. Mariah is another variation of Miriam that means "wished for child."
Michelle. A superstar name in the 1970s, this female version of Michael is actually still quite popular-- at #80 in 2006.

Classic Baby Girl Names That Start With M

Mary. Mary never goes out of style. The most popular name for generations until the Baby Boom, Mary is more popular today than you might think-- at #84 in 2006. It's one of those names that probably will never become obscure-- a true classic. The Spanish variations Maria and Mariana also are popular in the United States.
Margaret. This classic name hasn't endured as well as similar classics like Katherine and Elizabeth, but it's still relatively common at #161. Margaret comes from a Greek name meaning "pearl." While the nickname Peggy has become obscure, Maggie is a fairly common stand-alone name at #189.
Molly. Molly has such a old-fashioned feel, but it's still rather popular at #105. Molly is also related to the name Miriam and means "wished for child."
Martha. Has Ms. Stewart tainted this old-fashioned name? Perhaps for the time being, as it's plunged down the name charts to #526. True to the name's current most famous owner, Martha comes from an Aramaic expression that means "mistress of the house."

Unusual Baby Girl Names That Start With M

Mallory. Here's a last-name-turned-first-name that sounds like it should be more popular than it is. Perhaps parents are turned off by the meaning-- it comes from an Old French name that means "unlucky."
Mathilda. Way too old-fashioned and dated? Maybe, but it's catching on in Europe, and it can be a great alternative to Madison and Madeline. Mathilda comes from an ancient Germanic name that means "mighty in battle."
Magdalena. If you're looking for a Spanish name that hasn't caught on as much as names like Mariana and Gabriela, give this unique New Testament name a try.
Macy/Macey. Like Lacey, this is a name that sounds like it would be trendy, but it isn't.
Montana. if you like Western place names like Dakota, Cody, and Cheyenne, here's one that hasn't become trendy. Appropriately for the state, Montana comes from a Latin phrase meaning "mountain."