Girl Dog Names That Start With M

A pretty and little-known Spanish smoosh name, combining Maria with Celia.

One of the better-known Japanese names.

An attractive optical illusion where heat causes light to reflect in the air as if off a body of water. It was used as a character name in the 2004 animated film The Incredibles.

A less-popular alternative to Juliette, perhaps – although it feels rather more dated.

Minta is an eighteenth century short form of a literary beauty still used in England today, but yet to be discovered by American baby namers. It has a fresh and dainty feel.

A pretty spin on Maria or Marissa.

Rarely heard outside the Jewish community; another form is Minda.

A striking form of international favourite Maria, the meaning of which is uncertain. Theories include "drop of the sea" (from Hebrew roots mar "drop" and yam "sea"); "bitter" (from Hebrew marah "bitterness"); and "beloved" (from the Egyptian root mr).

Prime pert-teenager name in midcentury TV shows, replaced by Maggie.

Melvin is one of the ultimate nerd names, and Melva is not far behind.

Mardi is a foreign word name that sounds like a homegrown nickname. For what? We're not sure, but it's kinda cute, and preferable to Tuesday.

This name similar to Milana and Melania was popularized by Real Housewives of New Jersey star Teresa Guidice's daughter. It has ranked in the US Top 1000 since 2011.

Maybellene is the true one-of-a-kind baby name that Taylor and Natalie Hanson chose for their daughter in 2020. It's a variation of Maybelline, which is itself an elaboration of the name Mabel. The Maybellene spelling makes it one step removed from the cosmetics brand.

Mesa is the term for a flat-topped mountain, derived from the Spanish word for "table".

Common transcription of Maria throughout Europe.

A nice meaning -- congruent with the recent vogue for names like Blessing -- helps offset this Hawaiian name's proximity to overused Makayla and McKenzie.