Parenting - Prenatal to preschool/Parenting_PrenatalToPreschool.bin/dp/0035/00354.txt

Text File | 1993-06-25 | 23KB | 707 lines

$Unique_ID{PAR00354}
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$Title{Names for Boys:  M}
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Editors of Consumer Guide
Harder, Kelsey}
$Subject{Names Boys M}
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The Ultimate Baby Name Book


Names for Boys:  M


Mac                Scottish "son of"; also, a variation of Maximilian or
                   McCullough.  Mac is a prefix that corresponds to the
                   suffixes -son and -sen; all mean "son of."  Mac is a
                   nickname for names that begin with Mac or Mc, and it also
                   has become an independent name.
  Other spelling:  Mack

Macaliano (see Michael)

Mace (see Mason)

Macisimi (see Maximilian)

Mack (see Mac, Maximilian, McCullough)

MacKeefry (see Keefe)

MacKeighry (see Keefe)

Maddy (see Madison)

Madison            Possibly Old English mahhild-son, "son of a great soldier."
                   James Madison, the fourth president of the United States,
                   is the source of this name.  He was president during the
                   War of 1812, and along with John Hay and Alexander
                   Hamilton, Madison was the author of the Federalist Papers.
     Famous name:  Madison Jones (novelist)
       Nicknames:  Maddy, Mattie, Matty, Sonnie, Sonny

Mahlon             Hebrew "illness."  In the Bible, Mahlon was the eldest son
                   of Elimelech and Naomi, and the husband of Ruth.  The name
                   began to appear in the seventeenth century under the
                   influence of the Puritans and still is used occasionally.
     Famous name:  Mahlon Pitney (U.S. Supreme Court justice)
       Nicknames:  Lon, Lonnie, Lonny
       Variation:  Malon

Maik (see Michael)

Mal (see Malcolm)

Malcolm            Gaelic maol-Columb, "servant of Columb," from Latin
                   columbia, "dove."  This was the name of four Scottish
                   kings.  In Shakespeare's play Macbeth, Malcolm III joined
                   with Macduff to defeat Macbeth.  Malcolm has never been an
                   especially popular name in the United States, but recently
                   Black-American parents have chosen it to honor slain civil
                   rights leader Malcolm X.
    Famous names:  Malcolm Cowley (editor)
                   Malcolm Forbes (publisher)
                   Malcolm-Jamal Warner (actor)
        Nickname:  Mal

Malon (see Mahlon)

Mancho (see Romeo)

Manny (see Sherman)

Mansah             Ewe (Ghana) "third son."

Manuel             Spanish form of Emanuel.
     Famous name:  Manuel da Falla (composer)

Maolmuire (see Maurice)

Marc               Form of Mark.
    Famous names:  Marc Blitzstein (composer)
                   Marc Chagall (painter)

March (see Mark)

Marcial (see Mark)

Marcius (see Mark)

Marco (see Mark)

Marcos (see Mark)

Marcus (see Mark)

Marek (see Mark)

Marin              Latin marinus, "sailor."  Since sailing is becoming a
                   popular pastime, this name may be back in style very soon.
       Variation:  Maron

Mario              Masculine form of Mary; also, a form of Martin.
     Famous name:  Mario Cuomo (politician)

Mark               Latin Marcus, a Roman family name probably derived from
                   Mars, god of war.  Marcus Antonius and Marcus Brutus had
                   opposite opinions about Julius Caesar.  The Roman emperor
                   Marcus Aurelius was a Stoic philosopher, as well as a
                   savage persecutor of Christians.  St. Mark is the author of
                   the second Gospel.  In Venice, home of St. Mark's
                   Cathedral, the name has enduring popularity.  Venetian
                   Marco Polo explored the Far East in the thirteenth century
                   and brought home spaghetti and gunpowder.  But when writer
                   Samuel Clemens was looking for a pen name, he found
                   inspiration not in these historical Marks but in an
                   expression of Mississippi boatmen.  "Mark Twain" is the
                   minimum safe depth of two fathoms.
    Famous names:  Mark Rothko (painter)
                   Mark Spitz (swimmer)
                   Mark Van Doren (editor and poet)
      Variations:  Marc (French), March, Marcial, Marcius, Marco (Italian),
                   Marcos (Spanish), Marcus, Marek (Polish), Markos (Greek),
                   Markus (Danish, Dutch, German, and Swedish), Marquitos,
                   Marr, Marsilio, Martin, Martino, Mertin

Markos (see Mark)

Markus (see Mark)

Maron (see Marin)

Marquitos (see Mark)

Marr (see Mark)

Marsh (see Marshall)

Marshal (see Marshall)

Marshall           Old French marshal, "horse groom" and later "a leader of
                   men."  The military sound of this name has made it
                   unpopular today, but in the 1940s and 1950s it was more
                   common, as were such names as Colonel and Sargent.
    Famous names:  Marshall Field (merchant)
                   Marshall McLuhan (writer)
  Other spelling:  Marshal
        Nickname:  Marsh

Marsilio (see Mark)

Mart (see Martin)

Martainn (see Martin)

Marten (see Martin)

Martie (see Martin)

Martijn (see Martin)

Martin             Form of Mark.  Among Roman Catholics, Martin was a popular
                   name in the Middle Ages.  Four popes took this name,
                   perhaps in honor of the fourth-century St. Martin, the
                   bishop of Tours and the patron saint of France.  The name
                   is revered by Protestants because of Martin Luther, who
                   inspired the Reformation.  Charles Dickens used the name
                   for the title character of Martin Chuzzlewit.
    Famous names:  Martin Buber (philosopher)
                   Martin Luther King, Jr. (civil rights activist)
                   Martin Short (comedian)
                   Martin Van Buren (8th U.S. president)
 Other spellings:  Marten, Marton
       Nicknames:  Mart, Martie, Marty
      Variations:  Mario (Italian), Martainn (Scottish), Martijn (Dutch),
                   Martinicino, Martino (Italian and Spanish)

Martinicino (see Martin)

Martino (see Mark, Martin)

Marton (see Martin)

Marty              Form of Martin.  Parents who grew up watching the Mickey
                   Mouse Club may remember the boy adventurers Spin and Marty.
     Famous name:  Marty Robbins (singer)

Marv, Marve (see Marvin)

Marven (see Marvin)

Marvin             Old English Maerwine, "famous friend," from maer [famous] +
                   wine [friend]; also, a variation of Irwin.
    Famous names:  Marvin Gaye (musician)
                   Marvin Hagler (boxer)
                   Marvin Kaplan (actor)
  Other spelling:  Marven
        Nickname:  Marv
      Variations:  Marve, Mervyn, Merwyn

Masamo (see Maximilian)

Mascimo (see Maximilian)

Masial (see Maximilian)

Mason              Old French macon, "to make"; also, Old French masson, "a
                   stonecutter."
     Famous name:  Mason Adams (actor)
       Nicknames:  Mace, Sonnie, Sonny

Massey (see Thomas)

Massimiliano (see Maximilian)

Mat (see Matthew)

Mata (see Matthew)

Matejo (see Matthew)

Mateo (see Matthew)

Matheo (see Matthew)

Mathias (see Matthew)

Mathieu (see Matthew)

Mats               Swedish form of Matthew.
     Famous name:  Mats Wilander (tennis player)

Matt               Form of Matthew.  Actor James Arness played the
                   imperturbable Western marshal Matt Dillon on the television
                   series Gunsmoke.
     Famous name:  Matt Dillon (actor)

Matteo (see Matthew)

Matthaeus (see Matthew)

Matthaus (see Matthew)

Mattheo (see Matthew)

Matthes (see Matthew)

Mattheus (see Matthew)

Matthew            Hebrew matisyahu, "gift of the Lord."  St. Matthew, a
                   former tax collector and one of the Twelve Apostles, was
                   the author of the first Gospel.  The name has enduring
                   popularity in England and the United States.  In the
                   nineteenth century, Admiral Matthew Perry opened Japan to
                   trade to the West.  Today, this name is on the list of the
                   100 most-popular names for boys.
    Famous names:  Matthew Arnold (poet)
                   Mathew Brady (photographer)
                   Matthew Broderick (actor)
       Nicknames:  Mat, Matt, Mattie, Matty
      Variations:  Mata (Scottish), Matejo, Mathias, Mathieu (French),
                   Matthaeus (Danish), Matthaus (German), Matthes (German),
                   Mattheus (Dutch and Swedish), Matthia (German), Mattias,
                   Mateo (Spanish), Matheo, Mats (Swedish), Matteo (Italian),
                   Mattheo, Mattieu, Matyas (Polish), Mayo

Matthia (see Matthew)

Mattias (see Matthew)

Mattie, Matty (see Madison, Matthew)

Mattieu (see Matthew)

Matyas (see Matthew)

Maur (see Maurice)

Maureo (see Maurice)

Maurice            Greek Mauros, "a Moor."  St. Moritz, the fashionable Swiss
                   ski resort, is named for St. Maurice, a third-century
                   martyr.  Despite it being a fine, old English name,
                   Maurice hasn't been popular for some time, which is
                   probably why actor Michael Caine decided to take a stage
                   name, rather than use his given name of Maurice.
    Famous names:  Maurice Chevalier (entertainer)
                   Maurice Ravel (composer)
                   Maurice Sendak (illustrator)
       Nicknames:  Maurie, Maury
      Variations:  Maolmuire (Scottish), Maur, Maureo, Mauricio (Spanish),
                   Maurits (Dutch), Maurizio (Italian), Mauro (Italian),
                   Maurosio, Maursio, Meuriz, Moore, Morrel, Morrell, Morce,
                   Morel, Morey, Moricz (Hungarian), Morie, Moritz (German),
                   Moriz (Russian), Morrice (Scottish), Morrie, Morris, Morse

Mauricio (see Maurice)

Maurie (see Maurice)

Maurits (see Maurice)

Maurizio (see Maurice)

Mauro (see Maurice)

Maurosio (see Maurice)

Maursio (see Maurice)

Maury (see Maurice, Murray)

Max                Form of Maximilian.  Celebrities often set trends, and
                   since movie producer and director Steven Spielberg and his
                   wife, actress Amy Irving, recently named their son Max,
                   this name may become popular soon.
   Famous names:   Max Beckmann (painter)
                   Sir Max Beerbohm (writer)
                   Max Ernst (painter)
                   Max John Flack (baseball player)
                   Max Lerner (columnist)
                   Max von Sydow (actor)
                   Max Weber (sociologist)

Maxie (see Maximilian)

Maxim, Mazime (see Maximilian)

Maximilian         Latin maximus, "the greatest."  The Romans bestowed the
                   title Maximus on their great warriors, which is apparently
                   how the name developed.  In France, Maximilien Robespierre
                   was one of the leaders of the French revolution.  A few
                   decades later, Austrian Archduke Maximilian was quite
                   popular at home, but the Mexicans did not appreciate his
                   being given the title of Emperor of Mexico by Napoleon, and
                   they executed him.
    Famous names:  Maxim Gorki (short-story writer)
                   Maximilian Schell (actor)
       Nicknames:  Mac, Mack, Max, Maxie, Maxy
      Variations:  Macisimi, Masamo (Italian), Mascimo, Masial, Massimiliano
                   (Italian), Maxim (Russian), Maxime (French), Maximo
                   (Spanish), Maximiliano (Spanish), Maximilianus (Dutch),
                   Maximilien (French), Maximino, Maximus (Latin), Maxino,
                   Maxio, Maxwell, Messimo

Maximiliano (see Maximilian)

Maximilianus (see Maximilian)

Maximilien (see Maximilian)

Maximino (see Maximilian)

Maximo (see Maximilian)

Maximus (see Maximilian)

Maxino (see Maximilian)

Maxio (see Maximilian)

Maxwell (see Maximilian)

Maxy (see Maximilian)

Mayo (see Matthew)

McCullagh (see McCullough)

McCulloch, McCullock (see McCullough)

McCullough         Scottish "son of Cullach."  This clan name is sometimes
                   used as a given name.
     Famous name:  Wilbur McCullough Fisher (baseball player)
       Nicknames:  Cull, Cullie, Mac, Mack
      Variations:  McCullagh, McCulloch, McCullock

Mel                Form of Melvin or Samuel.  If Australian actor Mel Gibson
                   becomes the Robert Redford of his generation, there's a
                   chance that this name may become popular.
    Famous names:  Mel Allen (sportscaster)
                   Mel Brooks (producer)

Melvin             Old English from mael [council] + wine [friend] or mill
                   [mill] + wine [friend].
    Famous names:  Melvin Belli (lawyer)
                   Melvyn Douglas (actor)
  Other spelling:  Melvyn
       Nicknames:  Mel, Vinny

Melvyn (see Melvin)

Menz (see Clement)

Merlin (see Irving)

Merrill            Gaelic "sea-bright."  This name is related to the girl's
                   name Muriel, and currently more girls than boys are named
                   Merrill.  As a masculine name, it is well known because of
                   the brokerage house Merrill Lynch Pierce Fenner & Smith.
    Famous names:  Monford Merrill "Monte" Irvin (baseball player)
                   Merrill Moore (psychiatrist and poet)
       Variation:  Meryl

Mertin (see Mark)

Mervin (see Irving)

Mervyn (see Marvin)

Merwyn (see Marvin)

Meryl (see Merrill, Myron)

Messimo (see Maximilian)

Meuriz (see Maurice)

Mew (see Bartholomew)

Micah (see Michael)

Micalao (see Michael)

Michael            Hebrew "who is the Lord?"  Since 1960, Michael has been the
                   most-popular boys' name in the United States.  The
                   Archangel Michael led the great battle described in the
                   Revelation of St. John the Divine.  The name of the
                   Italian painter Michelangelo refers to the archangel.
                   Emperors of Constantinople, Rumanian kings, and the
                   first Romanov tsar of Russia share this name, as does the
                   Spanish writer Miguel de Cervantes.  The name also has been
                   extremely popular in the Soviet Union in the form of
                   Mikhail, with the pet name Mischa.  Baryshnikov, the
                   ballet dancer and choreographer, and Gorbachev, the
                   secretary of the Politburo, are both named Mikhail.
    Famous names:  Michael Bennett (choreographer)
                   Michael Caine (actor)
                   Michael Douglas (actor)
                   Michael Dukakis (politician)
                   Michael Redgrave (actor)
       Nicknames:  Mike, Mickey, Mickie, Micky, Mischa
      Variations:  Macaliano, Maik, Micah (Hebrew), Micalao, Michail
                   (Russian), Micheil (Scottish), Michel (French), Michele
                   (Italian), Michiel, Mickel, Mickella, Migael, Migel, Miguel
                   (Spanish), Miguelito (Italian), Mikael (Swedish), Mikel
                   (Swedish), Mikhael (Hebrew), Mikhail (Russian), Mischa
                   (Russian), Misha (German), Mishael (Hebrew), Mishenka
                   (Russian), Mitchell

Michail (see Michael)

Micheil (see Michael)

Michel, Michele (see Michael)

Michiel (see Michael)

Mickel (see Michael)

Mickella (see Michael)

Mickey, Mickie,    Form of Michael.  This nickname for Michael may be best
Micky              known through Walt Disney's cartoon creation Mickey Mouse,
                   but this association isn't exclusive, thanks to baseball
                   player Mickey Mantle, writer Mickey Spillane, and actors
                   Mickey Rooney and Mickey Rourke.

Migael (see Michael)

Migel (see Michael)

Miguel (see Michael)

Miguelito (see Michael)

Mikael (see Michael)

Mike               Form of Michael.
    Famous names:  Mike Marshall (baseball player)
                   Mike Todd (film producer)
                   Mike Tyson (boxer)

Mikel (see Michael)

Mikhael, Mikhail (see Michael)

Mil (see Milton)

Milan (see Miles)

Miles              Old German milo possibly from Slavic milu, "merciful," or
                   Latin militatus, "soldier."  Miles Standish was a leader in
                   the founding of New England, but he is better known through
                   Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's poem "The Courtship of Miles
                   Standish."
     Famous name:  Miles Davis (jazz trumpeter)
  Other spelling:  Myles
      Variations:  Milan, Mills, Milo (Italian), Milos (Italian)

Milko (see Emil)

Mills (see Miles)

Milo (see Emil, Miles)

Milos (see Miles)

Milt (see Milton)

Milton             Old English "mill town."  In the first decade of
                   television, comedian Milton Berle made this name familiar,
                   but Uncle Milty did nothing to increase the popularity of
                   the name.
    Famous names:  Milton Avery (artist)
                   Milton Friedman (economist)
       Nicknames:  Mil, Milt, Milty, Mull

Milty (see Milton)

Mincho (see Benjamin)

Mingo (see Dominic)

Mischa (see Michael)

Misha (see Michael)

Mishael (see Michael)

Mishenka (see Michael)

Mitch (see Mitchell)

Mitchell           Form of Michael.
     Famous name:  Mitch Miller (band leader)
        Nickname:  Mitch

Moe (see Moses)

Moijzesz (see Moses)

Moise (see Moses)

Moisei (see Moses)

Moises, Moisis (see Moses)

Mojzis (see Moses)

Moke (see Moses)

Monchi (see Moses)

Moncho (see Simon)

Monro (see Monroe)

Monroe             Gaelic Rothach, "man from Roe (a river in Ireland)."
                   Surnames of presidents have often been used for first
                   names.  James Monroe was the fifth president of the United
                   States.
 Other spellings:  Monro, Munroe, Munrow

Montagu (see Montgomery)

Monte, Monty       Form of Lamont or Montgomery.
    Famous names:  Monty Hall (game-show host)
                   Monte Markham (actor)

Montgomery         Form of Montague, a place name from Mont Aigu, France,
                   which means "pointed hill."  Drogo de Montacute brought the
                   name to England in 1066.
    Famous names:  Montgomery Clift (actor)
                   Montgomery Ward (merchant)
       Nicknames:  Monte, Monty, Gomer
       Variation:  Montagu

Moore (see Maurice)

Morce (see Maurice)

Morel (see Maurice)

Morey (see Maurice)

Morgan             Welsh "from the sea" or "by the sea."

Moricz (see Maurice)

Morie (see Maurice)

Moritz (see Maurice)

Moriz (see Maurice)

Morley             Old English, "marsh meadow."  Morley has a long tradition
                   as a name in England.  It was in use there before the
                   Norman Invasion.  Since it was not an aristocratic name
                   (one held by the Norman nobility), it did not become
                   popular until the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, when
                   many authors, statesmen, and artists were named Morley.
                   Queen Anne of England used the pseudonym Mrs. Morley.
     Famous name:  Morley Safer (journalist)
        Nickname:  Lee

Morrel, Morrell (see Maurice)

Morrice (see Maurice)

Morrie (see Maurice, Seymour)

Morris             Form of Maurice or Seymour.  This name has never been
                   popular in the United States, and now that a cat-food
                   company has made it famous as the name of a cat, it seems
                   unlikely that many parents, with the possible exception of
                   feline fanatics, will choose this name for their sons.
     Famous name:  Morris Fishbein (physician and editor)

Morrison           Form of Morris.
     Famous name:  Morrison Remick Waite (U.S. Supreme Court chief justice)

Morse (see Maurice)

Mort               Form of Mortimer or Morton.
     Famous name:  Mort Sahl (comedian)

Mortie (see Mortimer)

Mortimer           French place name Mortemer in Normandy, which may mean
                   "from the dead sea."
     Famous name:  Mortimer Adler (philosopher and educator)
       Nicknames:  Mort, Mortie

Morton             Old English "marsh town."
     Famous name:  Morton Downey, Jr. (talk-show host)
        Nickname:  Mort

Morven (see Irving)

Mose (see Moses)

Moses              Hebrew "saved"; also, possibly Egyptian "child."  As an
                   infant, Moses was taken from the water of the Nile River.
                   Since no record of the meaning of this name exists, the
                   event itself has become its meaning.  In the Old Testament,
                   Moses was the law giver of the Israelites and led them to
                   the promised land, which he could not enter.  He died after
                   having viewed it.  This name was used by Jews throughout
                   the Middle Ages.  In the seventeenth century, the Puritans
                   made it popular.  But in the late-nineteenth century, it
                   began to fall into disuse along with other Puritan names.
                   A revival of these names is taking place currently.
    Famous names:  Moses Austin (Texas pioneer)
                   Moses Cleaveland (founder of Cleveland)
                   Moshe Dayan (defense minister of Israel)
                   Moses Malone (basketball player)
       Nicknames:  Moe, Moke, Mose, Moshe, Mosie, Moss
      Variations:  Moijzesz (Polish and Russian), Moise (French and Italian),
                   Moisei (Bulgarian), Moises (Spanish), Moisis (Greek),
                   Mojzis (Slovakian), Monchi (Spanish), Mosheh (Ukrainian),
                   Moy, Moyes, Moze (Lithuanian), Mozes (Dutch and Hungarian)

Moshe (see Moses)

Mosheh (see Moses)

Mosie (see Moses)

Moss               Form of Moses.
     Famous name:  Moss Hart (playwright)

Moy (see Moses)

Moyes (see Moses)

Moze (see Moses)

Mozes (see Moses)

Mull (see Milton)

Mundek (see Edmond)

Mundy (see Edmond)

Munroe, Munrow (see Monroe)

Murray             Form of Maurice; also, Celtic "sea man" and a Scottish clan
                   name.
     Famous name:  F. Murray Abraham (actor)
 Other spellings:  Maury, Murry

Murry (see Murray)

Myles (see Miles)

Myra (see Myron)

Myreon (see Myron)

Myron              Greek "perfumed."
      Variations:  Meryl, Myra, Myreon