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$Title{Names for Girls:  M}
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Editors of Consumer Guide
Harder, Kelsey}
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The Ultimate Baby Name Book


Names for Girls:  M


Mab                From Gaelic Meadhbh, "mirth."  In Irish mythology, Queen
                   Mab is the queen of the fairies.
      Variations:  Mabel, Mave, Meave (Irish), Mavis (French)

Mabel              Latin amabilis, "lovable, amiable."  Mabel is a very old
                   variation of Amabel, dating to at least the thirteenth
                   century.  It was a popular name among the Victorians but is
                   considered old-fashioned today.
     Famous name:  Mabel Mercer (singer)
      Variations:  Amabel, Mab, Mabelle, Mable, Maible (Irish), Moibeal
                   (Scottish), Maybelle

Mabelle (see Mabel)

Mable (see Mabel)

Mada (see Madeline)

Madalena (see Madeline)

Madalene (see Madeline)

Madaline (see Lena)

Maddalena (see Madeline)

Maddie             Variation of Madeline.  On the popular television show
                   Moonlighting, Cybill Shepherd plays Maddie, a model turned
                   investigator whose personal life often poses more problems
                   than the crimes she is hired to solve.

Maddy (see Madeline)

Madel (see Madeline)

Madelaine (see Madeline)

Madeleine (see Madeline)

Madelena (see Madeline)

Madelina (see Madeline)

Madeline           Hebrew miqdal, "high tower"; also, Greek place name
                   Magdala.  This name has been very popular in France, where
                   it is associated with St. Mary Magdalene.  It is also the
                   name of the heroine of John Keats' poem "The Eve of St.
                   Agnes" and the most famous cookie in literature.  Eating a
                   madelaine inspired Marcel Proust to write Remembrance of
                   Things Past.
    Famous names:  Madelaine Carroll (actress)
                   Madeline Kahn (actress)
  Other spelling:  Madelaine
       Nicknames:  Mada, Maddie, Maddy, Lena, Lina, Maud, Maude
      Variations:  Madalene, Maddalena (Italian), Madel, Madalena (Spanish),
                   Madelena (Spanish), Madelina (Russian), Madella, Madelle,
                   Madeleine (French), Madelon (French), Madge, Madlen
                   (German), Mady (German), Magda (German), Magdala,
                   Magdalen, Magdalena (Spanish), Magdalene (German),
                   Magdalina (Polish), Magdelaine (French), Magli (Danish),
                   Maighdlin (Irish), Mala, Malena, Malin (Danish), Malina
                   (Danish), Marleen, Marlena, Marlene (German), Marline,
                   Marlyn, Maudlin

Madella (see Madeline)

Madelle (see Madeline)

Madelon (see Madeline)

Madge (see Magdaline, Margaret)

Madlen (see Madeline)

Mady (see Madeline)

Mae                Variation of May or Margaret.
     Famous name:  Mae West (actress)

Mag (see Magnolia, Margaret)

Magda              Variation of Madeline.  This is a very popular name in
                   German-speaking countries.

Magdala (see Madeline)

Magdalen (see Madeline)

Magdalena (see Madeline)

Magdalene (see Madeline)

Magdalina (see Madeline)

Magdelaine (see Madeline)

Magdelena (see Lena)

Maggie             Form of Magnolia or Margaret.  This nickname has become an
                   independent name.  Stephen Crane's Maggie:  A Girl of the
                   Streets tells the story of an urban prostitute.  The novel
                   was very controversial when it was published and may have
                   tainted the name.  In Tennessee Williams' play Cat on a Hot
                   Tin Roof, Maggie the Cat is a young wife stifled by her
                   Southern in-laws.  Rod Stewart popularized the song
                   "Maggie May."
     Famous name:  Maggie Smith (actress)
  Other spelling:  Maggy

Maggy (see Maggie, Magnolia, Margaret)

Magli (see Madeline)

Magnolia           New Latin "magnolia flower and tree" from Pierre Magnol, a
                   French botanist.
      Variations:  Mag, Maggie, Maggy, Nola, Nolie

Mahala             Hebrew "tenderness"; also, the name of a city.
     Famous name:  Mahalia Jackson (singer)
      Variations:  Mahalah, Mahalia, Mahalie

Mahalah (see Mahala)

Mahalia (see Mahala)

Mahalie (see Mahala)

Mai (see May)

Maible (see Mabel)

Maighdlin (see Madeline)

Mair (see Mary)

Maire, Mairi (see Mary)

Mairghread (see Margaret)

Maisie             Scottish variation of Margaret.  Henry James used the
                   name for the child heroine in What Maisie Knew.

Maitilde (see Mathilda)

Maj (see Margaret)

Mala (see Madeline)

Malena (see Madeline)

Malgherita (see Margaret)

Malin (see Madeline)

Malina (see Madeline, Melinda)

Malinda (see Melinda)

Malkin (see Mary)

Mallory            Old German madel-hari, "army counselor."  This formerly
                   masculine name has become a girls' name in the United
                   States.  It's the name of the oldest daughter on the
                   popular television comedy Family Ties.  Justine Bateman
                   plays the part.

Malvina            Feminine form of Melvin, Old English "chief."
     Famous name:  Malvina Hoffman (sculptor)

Mame, Mamie        Forms of Mary.  In a movie version of the novel, a Broadway
                   musical, and a movie of the musical, actresses Rosalind
                   Russell, Angela Lansbury, and Lucille Ball all played
                   Auntie Mame.  In James W. Blake's song "The Sidewalks of
                   New York," Mamie O'Rourke was the girl with whom he
                   tripped the light fantastic.
     Famous name:  Mamie Eisenhower (first lady)

Manda (see Amanda)

Mandaline (see Amanda)

Mandi, Mandie (see Amanda, Mandy)

Mandita (see Amanda)

Mandy              Form of Amanda, Melinda, or Samantha.
 Other spellings:  Mandi, Mandie

Manette (see Mary)

Manon (see Mary)

Manuela            Spanish feminine form of Emanuel, Hebrew "God is with us."

Manuette (see Mary)

Mar (see Mary)

Mara               Variation of Mary.  The name appears in the Book of Ruth,
                   but when Naomi referred to herself as Mara, she used the
                   word as an epithet meaning bitter.

Maraline (see Mary)

Marca (see Marcia)

Marcail (see Marjorie)

Marcelena (see Marcia)

Marcelia (see Marcia)

Marcella           Variation of Marcia.  In Don Quixote, Marcella is a
                   shepherdess, who is described as "the most-beautiful
                   creature ever sent into the world."  All the young men are
                   in love with her.

Marcelline (see Marcia)

Marcerita (see Marcia)

March (see Marcia)

Marcheta (see Marcia)

Marchita (see Marcia)

Marcia             Feminine form of Mark, Latin family name derived from
                   Mars, the god of war.
       Nicknames:  Marcie, Marcy
      Variations:  Marca, Marcelena, Marcelia, Marcella, Marcelline,
                   Marcerita, March, Marcheta, Marchita, Marcile, Markita,
                   Marquita, Marsha, Martina (German and Swedish), Marzia
                   (Italian), Masha (Russian)

Marcie (see Marcia)

Marcile (see Marcia)

Marcy (see Marcia)

Mare (see Mary)

Marella (see Mary)

Marelle (see Mary)

Maressa (see Marisa)

Maret (see Margaret)

Marete (see Margaret)

Maretta (see Mary)

Marette (see Mary)

Marfa (see Martha)

Marga (see Margaret)

Margalo (see Margaret)

Margaret           Greek margaritos, "pearls."  There are many Saint
                   Margarets, but only St. Margarete, the maid of Antioch,
                   is represented wearing pearls.  Margaret is a name that
                   often occurs among English royalty.  There is Margaret, the
                   daughter of Henry III; Margaret Of Anjou, the queen of
                   Henry VI; Margaret Beaufort, the mother of Henry VII;
                   Margaret, the countess of Richmond and the mother of Henry
                   VIII; and many princesses, including Princess Margaret, the
                   sister of Queen Elizabeth II.  The name also was popular
                   among European royalty.  In France, there was Marguerite of
                   Navarre, the mother of Henry IV, who married Marguerite of
                   Valois.  Like other long-popular names, Margaret has given
                   rise to many variations.
    Famous names:  Margaret Atwood (writer)
                   Margaret Mead (anthropologist)
                   Margaret Mitchell (novelist)
                   Margaret Thatcher (prime minister of Great Britain)
                   Margaret Truman (writer)
       Nicknames:  Madge, Maggie, Maggy, Marge, Margie, Margo, Meg,
                   Peg, Peggie, Peggy
      Variations:  Greta, Gretchen (German), Gretel (German), Gretje,
                   Gretl, Gretta (German), Mae, Mag, Mairghread (Irish and
                   Scottish), Maisie (Scottish), Maj (Swedish), Malgherita
                   (Italian), Maret (Danish), Marete (Norwegian), Marga,
                   Margalo, Margareta (Swedish), Margarete (Danish and
                   German), Margaretha (Dutch), Margarethe (German),
                   Margaretta, Margarette, Margarida (Portuguese), Margarita
                   (Polish and Spanish), Margaux (French), Margherita
                   (Italian), Marghet (German), Margit (Hungarian and
                   Norwegian), Margola, Margot (French), Margret, Margreth
                   (Danish), Marguerite (French), Marguerta, Marguerte,
                   Mariquita (Spanish), Marjarita (Slavic), Marjeta (Slavic),
                   Marjorie (Scottish), Marketa, May, Megan (Irish), Meggi,
                   Meghan (Welsh), Meta (Norwegian), Rita, Ryta

Margareta (see Margaret)

Margarete (see Margaret)

Margaretha (see Margaret)

Margarethe (see Margaret)

Margaretta (see Margaret)

Margarette (see Margaret)

Margarida (see Margaret)

Margarita (see Margaret)

Margaux (see Margaret)

Marge              Variation of Margaret and Marjorie.

Margery (see Marjorie)

Margherita (see Margaret)

Marghet (see Margaret)

Margie (see Margaret, Marjorie)

Margit (see Margaret)

Margo              Variation of Margaret and Marjorie.  As Margo Channing
                   in the movie All About Eve, Bette Davis played an actress
                   who is insecure about her appearance, her career, and her
                   personal life because she feels she is getting old.

Margola (see Margaret)

Margory (see Marjorie)

Margot             Variation of Margaret.
     Famous name:  Dame Margot Fonteyn (ballerina)

Margothe (see Mary)

Margret (see Margaret)

Margreth (see Margaret)

Marguerite         French variation of Margaret.  The French word marguerite
                   means daisy.
     Famous name:  Marguerite Chapman (actress)
        Nickname:  Rita

Marguerta (see Margaret)

Marguerte (see Margaret)

Margy (see Marjorie)

Mari               Variation of Marina or Mary.
     Famous name:  Mari Evans (poet)

Maria              Variation of Mary.  This is one of the most-popular names
                   in Italian and Spanish cultures.  Maria Christina of Spain
                   was the wife of Ferdinand VII, while Maria II de Gloria was
                   a queen of Portugal.  Maria Theresa of Spain was the wife
                   of Louis XIV of France.  In Leonard Bernstein's West Side
                   Story, a Broadway musical that recreates the story of Romeo
                   and Juliet, Maria is a young Puerto Rican girl who falls in
                   love with an American boy.  He sings the beautiful love
                   song "Maria."
    Famous names:  Maria Montessori (educator)
                   Maria Tallchief (ballerina)

Mariam (see Mary)

Marian             Variation of Mary.  Maid Marian is the Queen of the May
                   in traditional English May Day games.  Maid Marian is also
                   the beloved of Robin Hood.
    Famous names:  Marian Anderson (contralto)
                   Marian Thurm (writer)
  Other spelling:  Marion
      Variations:  Mariana (Spanish), Marianna (Italian), Marianne
                   (French and German)

Mariana (see Marian)

Mariane            Variation of Mary.  Shakespeare used this version of the
                   name for his play All's Well That Ends Well.
      Variations:  Marian, Mariana, Marianne

Marianna (see Marian, Mary)

Marianne           Variation of Mariane.  In France, the figure Marianne
                   represents the spirit of the French Republic in much the
                   same way that Uncle Sam and John Bull signify the United
                   States and England.
     Famous name:  Marianne Moore (poet)

Marice (see Mary)

Marie              French variation of Mary.  This French variation of Mary
                   has a long history, including the sixteenth-century Marie
                   de Medicis, the queen regent of France, and Marie
                   Antoinette, the ill-fated queen beheaded in the Revolution.
    Famous names:  Marie Curie (chemist)
                   Marie Dressler (actress)

Mariel             Variation of Mary.
     Famous name:  Mariel Hemingway (actress)

Marietta           Variation of Mary.
     Famous name:  Marietta Tree (urban planner)

Mariette           Variation of Mary.
     Famous name:  Mariette Hartley (actress)

Marilin (see Marilyn)

Mariline (see Mary)

Marilla (see Mary)

Marilyn            Variation of Mary; also, a combination of Mary and
                   Lynn.  In the 1950s, this was the most-popular version of
                   Mary because of the incomparable Marilyn Monroe.  In the
                   first part of the century, the name was also made popular
                   by an actress--Marilyn Miller, a star of Broadway musicals.
    Famous names:  Marilyn French (writer)
                   Marilyn Horne (mezzo-soprano)
      Variations:  Marilin, Marylin

Marina             Italian and Spanish "of the sea."  Shakespeare used this
                   name, and it is currently in favor with the British royal
                   family.
      Variations:  Mari, Marinna, Maris, Marisa, Marissa, Marna, Marni,
                   Marnie, Marny, Meara, Meris

Marinka (see Mary)

Marinna (see Marina)

Marion (see Marian, Mary)

Mariquita (see Margaret, Mary)

Maris (see Marina)

Marisa             Variation of Marina.
    Famous names:  Marisa Berenson (actress)
                   Marisa Pavan (actress)
      Variations:  Maressa, Marissa, Maritza

Mariska (see Mary)

Marissa (see Marina)

Marita (see Mary)

Marite (see Mary)

Maritza (see Marisa)

Marja (see Mary)

Marjarita (see Margaret)

Marje (see Marjorie)

Marjeta (see Margaret)

Marjie (see Marjorie)

Marjorie           Variation of Margaret.  Now an independent name,
                   Marjorie stems from either the Old French or the Scottish
                   variation.  The novel and the movie Marjorie Morningstar
                   were both very popular in the 1950s, when the name was at
                   the height of its popularity in the United States.
    Famous names:  Marjorie Lord (actress)
                   Marjorie Rawlings (writer)
      Variations:  Marge, Margery, Margie, Margo, Margory, Margy,
                   Marje, Marjie, Marjory, Marjy, Meadhbh (Irish), Marcail
                   (Scottish)

Marjy (see Marjorie)

Marketa (see Margaret)

Markita (see Marcia)

Marla (see Mary)

Marleen (see Madeline)

Marlena (see Madeline, Marlene)

Marlene            Variation of Madeline.  During World War II, entertainer
                   Marlene Dietrich popularized a German song about a soldier
                   going off to war, called "Lili Marlene."
       Variation:  Marlena

Marline (see Madeline)

Marlo              Variation of Mary.
     Famous name:  Marlo Thomas (actress)

Marlyn (see Madeline)

Marna (see Marina, Marnie)

Marne (see Marnie)

Marni, Marny (see Marina)

Marnie             Latin "belonging to the sea."
      Variations:  Marina, Marne, Marna

Marquita           Variation of Marcia.  This is a very popular name today
                   with Black-American parents.

Marrilee (see Merry)

Marsha             Variation of Marcia.
     Famous name:  Marsha Mason (actress)

Mart (see Martha)

Marta (see Martha, Martina)

Martella (see Martha)

Martelle (see Martha)

Martha             Aramaic feminine form of mar, "a lord."  In the Bible,
                   Martha, the sister of Lazarus and Mary, is admonished by
                   Jesus for her sharp words about others.  Martha Washington
                   was the original first lady.  In literature, Martha was one
                   of Sir Walter Scott's favorite names, while in Edward
                   Albee's play Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, Martha is the
                   foul-mouthed, unhappy wife of a professor.
    Famous names:  Martha Graham (dancer)
                   Martha Raye (comedienne)
       Nicknames:  Martie, Marty
      Variations:  Marfa (Russian), Mart, Marta (Hungarian, Italian,
                   Norwegian, and Swedish), Martella, Martelle, Marthe
                   (French and German), Marthena, Marthine, Marthini, Martila,
                   Martita, Mat, Mata, Mattie, Matty, Moireach (Scottish)

Marthe (see Martha)

Marthena (see Martha)

Marthine (see Martha)

Marthini (see Martha)

Martie (see Martha, Martina)

Martila (see Martha)

Martina            Latin "warlike"; also, a variation of Marcia.
     Famous name:  Martina Navratilova (tennis player)
      Variations:  Marta, Martie, Martine, Tina

Martine (see Martina)

Martita (see Martha)

Marty (see Martha)

Marva              Old French Merveille, "miraculous."
     Famous name:  Marva Collins (educator)
      Variations:  Marvel, Marvela, Marvella, Marvelle

Marvel (see Marva)

Marvela, Marvella (see Marva)

Marvelle (see Marva)

Mary               Hebrew "sea of bitterness" or "child we wished for."
                   Mary is without doubt the most-popular girls' name in
                   history, particularly because it is revered as the name of
                   the mother of Jesus, the Virgin Mary.  In the British
                   Isles, the name has been used by royalty for centuries.
                   Mary Tudor, also known as Bloody Mary, was the first
                   daughter of Henry VIII.  Her cousin, Mary Stuart, was the
                   queen of Scotland, who was executed in England after her
                   followers tried to put her on the throne.  It is through
                   her son James that the Stuarts sat on the English
                   throne after the death of Elizabeth I.  Mary Shelley, the
                   wife of poet Percy Bysshe Shelley, created the most-popular
                   monster in the history of literature in her novel,
                   Frankenstein.  A magical English nanny named Mary Poppins,
                   played in the popular movie by Julie Andrews, has become a
                   standard in children's literature.
    Famous names:  Mary Gordon (writer)
                   Mary Martin (actress)
                   Mary Tyler Moore (actress)
                   Mary Pickford (actress and movie executive)
                   Mary Roberts Rinehart (writer)
                   Mary Wollstonecraft (political philosopher)
  Other spelling:  Mari
       Nicknames:  Mame, Mamie, Mar, Mare, Mayme, Moll, Mollie, Molly, Poll,
                   Polly
      Variations:  Mair, Maire (Irish), Mairi (Scottish), Malkin, Manette
                   (French), Manon (French), Manuette (French), Mara,
                   Maraline, Marella, Marelle, Maretta, Marette, Margothe,
                   Maria (Italian and Spanish), Mariam, Marian, Mariane,
                   Marianna, Marianne, Marice, Marie (French), Mariel,
                   Marietta, Mariette, Mariline, Marilla, Marilyn,
                   Marinka, Marion, Mariquita (Spanish), Mariska, Marita
                   (Spanish), Marite, Marja, Marla, Marlo, Marya (Polish and
                   Slavic), Maryal, Maryann, Marylou, Maryse (French),
                   Marysia, Matelle, Maura (Irish), Maureen (Irish),
                   Maurene, Maurita, May, Mearr (Irish), Min, Minnie
                   (Scottish), Miriam, Moira (Irish), Moire (Scottish), Moya
                   (Irish), Muire (Irish and Scottish), Muriel, Murielle

Marya (see Mary)

Maryal (see Mary)

Mary Ann           Combination of Mary and Ann.
    Famous names:  Mary Ann Childers (journalist)
                   Mary Ann Mobley (actress)

Maryann (see Mary)

Mary Jane          Combination of Mary and Jane.  This name is not only used
                   for little girls; it's a kind of sugar candy and a style
                   of shoe.

Marylin (see Marilyn)

Mary Lou           Combination of Mary and Lou.
     Famous name:  Mary Lou Retton (gymnast)

Marylou (see Mary)

Maryse (see Mary)

Marysia (see Mary)

Marzia (see Marcia)

Masha (see Marcia)

Mat (see Martha)

Mata (see Martha)

Matelda (see Mathilda)

Matelle (see Mary)

Mathilda           Old German mat-hilde, "mighty battle-maiden."  The
                   earliest form of this name was probably Mathilda, but by
                   the time of the Norman Conquest of England, it was
                   Matilda, the name of the wife of William the Conqueror who
                   became the queen of England.  The name has gone in and out
                   of fashion since that time and has produced several
                   variations.  The popular Australian song "Waltzing Matilda"
                   refers not to a woman but to a tramp's pack.
  Other spelling:  Matilda
      Variations:  Maitilde (Irish), Matelda (Italian), Mathilde (French and
                   German), Matilde (Spanish), Maud, Maude

Mathilde (see Mathilda)

Matilda (see Mathilda)

Matilde (see Mathilda)

Mattie, Matty (see Martha)

Maud, Maude        Variations of Madeline and Mathilda.  The granddaughter of
                   William the Conqueror, Matilda, was known as Maud.  But the
                   name became an independent name many centuries ago.
                   Although Maud is not fashionable today, it appears fairly
                   frequently in popular culture as a name that connotes a
                   rebellious woman, one who doesn't fit into the culturally
                   accepted feminine mold.  For example, actress Francoise
                   Fabian is the intellectual freethinker in Eric Rohmer's
                   movie My Night at Maud's, while a similar but older
                   Maud was created by actress Ruth Gordon in Harold and
                   Maude.  In the popular television comedy Maude, actress Bea
                   Arthur played an independent woman who went against the
                   conventions of the time.
     Famous name:  Maud Adams (actress)

Maudlin (see Madeline)

Maura (see Mary, Maureen)

Maureen            Irish variation of Mary.
    Famous names:  Maureen O'Hara (actress)
                   Maureen Stapleton (actress)
      Variations:  Maura, Maurene, Maurizia (Italian), Moira, Mora, Moreen,
                   Morena (Spanish), Moria

Maurene (see Mary, Maureen)

Maurita (see Mary)

Maurizia (see Maureen)

Max (see Maxine)

Maxie (see Maxine)

Maxime (see Maxine)

Maxine             Latin "greatest"; feminine form of Maximillian.
    Famous names:  Maxine Elliott (actress)
                   Maxine Kumin (poet)
      Variations:  Max, Maxie, Maxime

May                Latin maius, the month; also, a variation of Margaret or
                   Mary.  This "month" name is no longer very popular.
    Famous names:  May Robson (actress)
                   May Sarton (writer)
                   May Swenson (poet)
      Variations:  Mae (Portuguese), Mai, Maya, Maye

Maya               Variation of May.
     Famous name:  Maya Angelou (writer)

Maybelle (see Mabel)

Maye (see May)

Mayme (see Mary)

Meadhbh (see Marjorie)

Meagan (see Megan)

Meaghan (see Megan)

Meara (see Marina)

Mearr (see Mary)

Meg (see Margaret)

Megan              Variation of Margaret; also Welsh Meghan.  Like other
                   names with Gaelic or Welsh origins, this name became
                   extremely popular in the United States in the 1980s.
                   Galsworthy used the name for the heroine of his story "The
                   Apple Tree."
     Famous name:  Megan Gallagher (actress)
       Variation:  Meagan, Meaghan, Meghan (Welsh)

Meggi (see Margaret)

Meghan (see Margaret, Megan)

Mehetabel (see Mehitabel)

Mehitabel          Hebrew "favored of God."  Even though this name is
                   mentioned twice in the Bible, it has never been a popular
                   name in the United States.
       Variation:  Mehetabel

Mel                Variation of Melanie.
     Famous name:  Mel Harris (actress)

Melain, Melaine (see Melanie)

Melaina (see Melanie)

Melani (see Melanie)

Melania (see Melanie)

Melanie            Greek "dark."  Melanie is the long-suffering wife of
                   Ashley Wilkes in Margaret Mitchell's Gone with the Wind.
    Famous names:  Melanie Griffith (actress)
                   Melanie Safka (singer)
  Other spelling:  Melany
       Nicknames:  Mel, Mellie, Melly
      Variations:  Melain, Melaina, Melaine, Melani, Melania (Greek and
                   Polish), Melina, Melony

Melany (see Melanie)

Melessa (see Melissa)

Melicent (see Melissa, Millicent)

Melina             Variation of Carmel and Melanie.
     Famous name:  Melina Mercouri (actress)

Melinda            Old English "a gentle person."  This name may have
                   been coined in the seventeenth century in imitation of
                   Belinda.
     Famous name:  Melinda Dillon (actress)
      Variations:  Linda, Lindy, Malina, Malinda, Mandy

Melisa (see Melissa)

Melisande (see Melissa, Millicent)

Melise (see Melissa)

Melisenda (see Melissa, Millicent)

Melisendra (see Melissa)

Melissa            Greek melissa, "honey" or "honey bee."
    Famous names:  Melissa Etheridge (singer)
                   Melissa Gilbert (actress)
 Other spellings:  Melessa, Melisa
       Nicknames:  Lisa, Lissa, Mellie, Melly, Milli, Millie, Milly, Missie,
                   Missy
      Variations:  Melicent, Melisande (French), Melise, Melisenda (Spanish),
                   Melisse (French), Melisendra, Melita, Melitta, Melusine
                   (French), Melleta, Milicent, Millicent, Millisent

Melisse (see Melissa)

Melita, Melitta (see Melissa)

Melleta (see Melissa)

Mellicent (see Millicent)

Mellie, Melly (see Amelia, Melanie, Melissa)

Melodie (see Melody)

Melody             Greek "song."
     Famous name:  Melody Anderson (actress)
  Other spelling:  Melodie
       Variation:  Melosa (Greek)

Melony (see Melanie)

Melosa (see Melody)

Melusine (see Melissa)

Mercedalia (see Mercedes)

Mercedas (see Mercedes)

Mercedes           Spanish "mercy, mercies" from Maria de Mercedes,
                   "Mary of Mercies."  This is a popular Spanish name for
                   girls.  The Mercedes Benz is named after the daughter of
                   a financier of the German car company.
     Famous name:  Mercedes McCambridge (actress)
      Variations:  Mercedalia, Mercedas, Mercia, Mercida, Mercy

Mercia (see Mercedes)

Mercida (see Mercedes)

Mercy (see Mercedes)

Meredee (see Meredith)

Meredith           Welsh "magnificent"; also, Celtic "protector of the
                   sea."  This surname has become a popular first name.
     Famous name:  Meredith Baxter Birney (actress)
  Other spelling:  Meridith
      Variations:  Meredee, Merri, Merrie, Merry.

Merial (see Muriel)

Meridith (see Meredith)

Meriel (see Muriel)

Merilla (see Muriel)

Meris (see Marina)

Merl (see Merle)

Merla (see Merle)

Merle              From the Latin merula, "blackbird."  Both Merle Oberon
                   and Meryl Streep changed their names, from Estelle Merle
                   O'Brian Thompson and Mary Louise Streep.
  Other spelling:  Merl
      Variations:  Merla, Merlina, Merline, Merola, Merrill, Meryl,
                   Myrle, Myrlene, Murial, Muriel

Merlina (see Merle)

Merline (see Merle)

Merna (see Myrna)

Merola (see Merle)

Merri, Merrie (see Meredith, Merry)

Merrielle (see Merry)

Merril (see Muriel)

Merrill            Variation of Merle.  Merrill can also be used as a boys'
                   name.
     Famous name:  Merrill Ashley (ballerina)

Merry              Old English myrige, "pleasant, merry"; also variation of
                   Meredith.
     Famous name:  Merry Anders (actress)
 Other spellings:  Merri, Merrie
      Variations:  Marrilee, Merrielle

Mertice (see Myrtle)

Mertle (see Myrtle)

Meryl (see Merle)

Meta (see Margaret)

Mia                Form of Michele; also Italian "mine."  This name has only
                   been used in the United States during the past 40 years.
    Famous names:  Mia Dillon (actress)
                   Mia Farrow (actress)

Micaela (see Michaela)

Michael (see Michaela)

Michaela           Feminine form of Michael, Hebrew "who is the Lord?"
       Nicknames:  Micki, Mickie, Micky
      Variations:  Micaela, Michael, Michaele (Italian), Michaelina,
                   Michaeline (German), Michaella (Italian), Michel, Michele,
                   Michelina, Micheline, Michelle (French), Miguela (Spanish),
                   Miguelita (Spanish), Mikaela, Mikelina (Russian), Mychal

Michaele (see Michaela)

Michaelina (see Michaela, Michele)

Michaeline (see Michaela)

Michaella (see Michaela)

Michel (see Michaela)

Michele, Michelle  French feminine form of Michael, Hebrew "who is the Lord?"
    Famous names:  Michele Greene (actress)
                   Michelle Lee (actress)
                   Michelle Pfeiffer (actress)
       Nicknames:  Micki, Mickie, Micky
      Variations:  Mia, Michaela, Michaelina, Midge, Miguela

Michelina (see Michaela)

Micheline (see Michaela)

Micki, Mickie, Micky (see Michaela, Michele)

Midge (see Margaret, Michele)

Mignon             French "dainty."
     Famous name:  Mignon Eberhart (writer)
       Variation:  Mignonette

Mignonette (see Mignon)

Miguela (see Michaela, Michele)

Miguelita (see Michaela)

Mikaela (see Michaela)

Mikelina (see Michaela)

Mil (see Mildred)

Milari (see Hilary)

Mildred            Old English "gentle counselor."  This is a very old
                   Anglo-Saxon name, which was popular with the Victorians.
                   In the movie Mildred Pierce, Joan Crawford played a mother
                   obsessed with her daughter.
    Famous names:  Mildred Dunnock (actress)
                   Mildred MacAfee (WWII chief of WAVE)
                   Mildred Schmertz (editor)
  Other spelling:  Mildrid
       Nicknames:  Mil, Millie, Milly
       Variation:  Milla

Mildrid (see Mildred)

Milicent (see Melissa, Millicent)

Milissent (see Millicent)

Milka (see Emily, Ilka)

Milla              Variation of Mildred.
     Famous name:  Milla Jovovich (actress)

Milli (see Melissa)

Millicent          Old German "good, strong worker."
     Famous name:  Millicent Martin (singer)
       Nicknames:  Millie, Milly, Missie, Missy, Lissa
      Variations:  Melicent, Melisande (French), Melisenda (Spanish),
                   Mellicent, Milicent, Milissa, Milissent, Millisent, Milzie

Millie             Form of Amelia, Camilla, Emily, Melissa, Mildred, and
                   Millicent.
     Famous name:  Millie Perkins (actress)
  Other spelling:  Milly

Millisent (see Melissa, Millicent)

Milly (see Amelia, Camilla, Emily, Melissa, Mildred, Millicent)

Milzie (see Millicent)

Mimi               Form of Jemima and Miriam.  Mimi is the heroine of
                   Puccini's opera La Boheme.
    Famous names:  Mimi Kramer (theater critic)
                   Mimi Rogers (actress)

Min (see Mary, Minerva)

Mina (see Jasmine, Wilhelmina)

Minchen (see Wilhelmina)

Mindy (see Melinda)

Minerva            Latin "wisdom."  In Roman mythology, Minerva was the
                   goddess of wisdom; she is the counterpart of the Greek
                   goddess Athena.
       Nicknames:  Min, Minnie, Minny
       Variation:  Minette (French)

Minette (see Minerva)

Minna (see Wilhelmina)

Minnie             Variation of Jasmine, Minerva, and Wilhelmina; also a
                   Scottish variation of Mary.  The best-known Minnie in
                   history is Walt Disney's cartoon mouse.  Minnie is also
                   the heroine of Puccini's opera The Girl of the Golden West.
     Famous name:  Minnie Maddern Fiske (actress)
  Other spelling:  Minny

Minny (see Minnie, Minerva, Wilhelmina)

Mira (see Miranda, Myra)

Miranda            Latin "admirable."  Miranda is Prospero's daughter in
                   Shakespeare's The Tempest.
    Famous names:  Miranda Richardson (actress)
                   Miranda Spivack (writer)
       Nicknames:  Randa, Randee, Randi, Randie, Randy
      Variations:  Mira, Mirella, Mirelle, Mirilla, Mirra, Myra, Myrilla

Mirella (see Miranda)

Mirelle (see Miranda)

Miriam             Variation of Mary.  This name is considered to be the
                   oldest form of the name Mary.  In the Old Testament, Miriam
                   is a prophetess and the sister of Aaron.
     Famous name:  Miriam Makeba (singer)
      Variations:  Mimi (French), Mitzi (German)

Mirilla (see Miranda)

Mirna (see Myrna)

Mirra (see Miranda)

Mirtle (see Myrtle)

Missie (see Melissa, Millicent, Missy)

Missy              Form of Melissa and Millicent.
  Other spelling:  Missie

Mitzi              Variation of Miriam.
     Famous name:  Mitzi Gaynor (actress)

Modesta            Latin "modesty."  There are a few saints with this name,
                   but its greatest claim to fame is in the British cartoon
                   secret agent Modesty Blaise.

Moibeal (see Mabel)

Moina (see Myrna)

Moira              Celtic "the great"; also, an Irish variation of Mary or a
                   form of Maureen.  This Irish form of Mary has become a
                   popular name in Scotland.  Like Megan, it is likely to
                   become more popular in the United States in the near
                   future.
  Other spelling:  Moyra

Moire (see Mary)

Moireach (see Martha)

Moll (see Mary)

Mollie, Molly      Form of Mary.  During the Revolutionary War battle of
                   Monmouth, Mary MacCauley carried water to exhausted and
                   wounded colonial soldiers.  In appreciation for her
                   kindness, they renamed her Molly Pitcher.  In literature,
                   Molly Bloom is the heroine of James Joyce's Ulysses.
    Famous names:  Molly Haskell (movie critic)
                   Molly Ringwald (actress)

Mona               Origin uncertain; possibly Old German "one" also, a form
                   of Donna and Monica; also, from Gaelic Muadhnait "noble."
                   Some parents who name their daughters Mona believe they are
                   naming her for the Mona Lisa of Leonardo da Vinci's famous
                   painting, but in that case, Mona is not a first name but an
                   honorary title, a contraction of the Italian ma donna, "my
                   lady."
     Famous name:  Mona Maris (actress)
  Other spelling:  Monna

Monca (see Monica)

Monica             Origin uncertain; possibly from Greek "merit," Irish
                   "noble," Latin "advise," or Old English "month."  St.
                   Monica was the mother of St. Augustine.
     Famous name:  Monica Vitti (actress)
        Nickname:  Mona
       Variation:  Monca (Irish), Monika (German and Polish), Monique
                   (French)

Monika (see Monica)

Monique            French form of Monica.
     Famous name:  Monique Van Vooren (entertainer)

Monna (see Mona)

Mora (see Maureen)

Morag (see Sarah)

Moreen (see Maureen)

Morena (see Maureen)

Moretta (see Amorette)

Morgan             Welsh "sea dweller."  In the Arthurian romances, Morgan
                   le Fay, the queen of the Incubi, is the half-sister of King
                   Arthur.  Their incestuous relationship led to the birth of
                   a child, Mordred.
     Famous name:  Morgan Fairchild (actress)
       Variation:  Morgana

Morgana (see Morgan)

Moria (see Maureen)

Morna (see Myrna)

Moya (see Mary)

Moyna (see Moira, Myrna)

Mueielle (see Muriel)

Muire (see Mary)

Muireall (see Muriel)

Muirgheal (see Muriel)

Murial (see Merle, Muriel)

Muriel             Arabic "myrrh."  Gaelic "sea-bright"; also, a variation of
                   Mary and Merle.  During the 1850s, a popular novel by Dinah
                   M.M. Craik, John Halifax, Gentleman, made this name very
                   popular.  Its use has declined steadily since that time.
    Famous names:  Muriel Rukeyser (poet)
                   Muriel Sparks (novelist)
  Other spelling:  Murial
      Variations:  Merial, Meriel, Merril, Merilla, Muireall (Scottish),
                   Muirgheal (Irish), Mueielle

Murielle (see Mary)

Muteteli           Rwanda "dainty."

Mychal (see Michaela)

Myra               Feminine form of Myron, old French "quiet song"; also, a
                   variation of Miranda.
     Famous name:  Dame Myra Hess (pianist)
  Other spelling:  Mira

Myrilla (see Miranda)

Myrle (see Merle)

Myrlene (see Merle)

Myrna              Arabic "myrrh"; also, Irish "the loved one."
     Famous name:  Myrna Loy (actress)
 Other spellings:  Merna, Mirna
      Variations:  Moina, Morna, Moyna

Myrt (see Myrtle)

Myrta (see Myrtle)

Myrtia (see Myrtle)

Myrtice (see Myrtle)

Myrtis (see Myrtle)

Myrtle             Greek "myrtle tree."
  Other spelling:  Mirtle
      Variations:  Mertle, Mertice, Myrt, Myrta, Myrtia, Myrtice, Myrtis