Dog Names That Start With M

  1. Meron
    • Origin:

      Amharic, Ethiopian
    • Meaning:

      "gift from God; holy oil"
    • Description:

      While Meron looks like a variation of Maren or Marion, her origins are in Ethiopia: Meron is the name of the holy oil used for christenings in the Ethiopian Orthodox church.
  2. March
    • Origin:

      English word name
    • Meaning:

      "month name"
    • Description:

      March has never been popular as a month name, possibly because of its slightly abrupt sound. But with all kinds of month (and season, day, and holiday) names, from January to December, Sunday to Easter, Winter to Midnight, coming to the fore, March is beginning to seem eminently baby-ready.
  3. Mauro
    • Origin:

      Spanish and Italian
    • Meaning:

      "moorish"
    • Description:

      Mauro, a Top 100 name in Spain and Puerto Rico, is etymologically unrelated to the girls' name Maura, but that won't stop many English speakers from drawing the comparison.
  4. Macha
    • Origin:

      Irish
    • Meaning:

      "of the plain"
    • Description:

      Irish goddess and saint name that's strong, to say the least.
  5. Mo
    • Origin:

      English diminutive of Maurice and Morris
    • Meaning:

      "dark-skinned"
    • Description:

      An exceedingly friendly every-guy nickname that could rise alongside the likes of Ike, Sid, and Ned.
  6. Matej
    • Origin:

      Slovak, Slovene, and Croatian variation of Matthew
    • Meaning:

      "gift of God"
    • Description:

      Central European form of Matthew.
  7. Mosley
    • Origin:

      English place name and surname
    • Meaning:

      "peat bog, mouse clearing"
    • Description:

      Mosley, former best known as the surname of author Walter, has been put in play as a first name for girls by football great Peyton Manning, who used the name for his twin daughter, sister of Marshall. Alternate spellings are Moseley and Mosely and the first syllable rhymes with Rose.
  8. Manha
    • Origin:

      Arabic
    • Meaning:

      "gift from Allah"
  9. Mercer
    • Origin:

      French occupational surname
    • Meaning:

      "a merchant"
    • Description:

      Mercer is one fashionable occupational name that can work as well for girls as boys, perhaps because of the soft c or the conventionally feminine nickname Mercy.
  10. Malayah
    • Origin:

      Variation of Malaya, Filipino
    • Meaning:

      "free"
    • Description:

      Malayah first appeared on the charts in 1994 and has steadily climbed its way into the Top 1000. It's a spelling variation of Malaya, which derives from the same root as Malaysia — which in addition to being a country name, is a baby name that ranks in the Top 600.
  11. Mulligan
    • Origin:

      Irish
    • Meaning:

      "descendent of the bald-headed"
    • Description:

      Less appealing than some other Irish surnames, such as Malone and Sullivan, unless used as a tribute to jazz musician Gerry. There could be some Mulligan stew teasing.
  12. Merewen
    • Origin:

      Old English
    • Meaning:

      "sublime delight"
    • Description:

      This Anglo-Saxon gem was borne by a few medieval women including Saint Merewen, Abbess of Romsey Abbey. It has also been used in literature, for example in Kit Berry's Stonewylde series. Merewen has the mellifluous vowels and Celtic charm of other current favorites like Elowen and Meredith.
  13. Mecca
    • Origin:

      Arabic, exact meaning unknown
    • Meaning:

      "holy city; temple; place of great importance"
    • Description:

      The Islamic prophet Muhammad was born in the city of Mecca, now known as the holiest city in Islam. Officially called Makkah al-Mukarramah, or Makkah, it is located in modern-day Saudi Arabia. Millions of Muslims from across the world make a pilgrimage there each year, while Non-Muslims are understandably not allowed inside the city.
  14. Marleigh
    • Origin:

      Spelling variation of Marley
    • Description:

      This variation of Marley is gaining momentum due to the popular -leigh suffix, which is all over the US popularity lists. This name in particular reentered the US Top 1000 in 2013.
  15. Madelynn
    • Origin:

      Spelling variation of Madelyn, English
    • Meaning:

      "woman from Magdala or high tower"
    • Description:

      Madelynn is the fourth most popular variation of this durably popular name, with Madelyn ranking first in the Top 100, Madeline dropping to the Number 2 spot, the French Madeleine taking third place, and Madelynn coming in fourth but still ranking in the Top 500.
  16. Maxima
    • Origin:

      Latin, feminine variation of Maximus
    • Description:

      Max names were one of the hottest trends for boys in the mid-2010s, and are still very popular. The girl versions haven't seen so much love, unfortunately. (Or fortunately, if you love them and want them to stay rare!) Maxima got some attention in 2015 when Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan used it for their daughter, but few parents have copied them.

  17. Malta
    • Origin:

      Place-name
    • Description:

      An archipelago near the center of the Mediterranean, the name derives from the Greek word for honey. Malta has been heard as a girl’s name in the past and was used as a character name by both Dickens and Murakami.
  18. Millard
    • Origin:

      Latin
    • Meaning:

      "caretaker of the mill"
    • Description:

      If you're looking for a presidential first name, keep looking.
  19. Marvel
    • Origin:

      English word name
    • Description:

      Marvel, now a character name in The Hunger Games series, was a miracle name of yesterday, on the girls' Social Security list until 1941 and reaching a high of 487 at the turn of the last century, when Marva was also in style.
  20. Mati
    • Origin:

      Estonian variation of Matthew, Hebrew
    • Meaning:

      "gift of God"
    • Description:

      Friendly and charming international variation of Matthew, common in Estonia.