Dog Names That Start With M

A bit grown-up for a tiny baby.

This evocative place-name is rising in popularity -- despite (or perhaps because of) the unfortunate association with an airplane that went missing in March 2014.

Most famous as a sci-fi action film starring Keanu Reeves, the word matrix actually derives from the Latin for "womb". Max could be a cool nickname.

Moody would work great as the name of Snow White's lost eighth dwarf friend, but we can't recommend it as a first name IRL. It was the last name of Harry Potter character Mad-Eye Moody, played by Brenden Gleason in the movies; his given name was Alastor. The bond credit rating company Moody's is likewise named for the surname of its founder, John Moody.

Spelling variation of Mattan.

Malibu, the name of a California beach city, evokes sunshine, surfing, and glamour. With its fashionable "oo" sound — as seen in names like Luna and Ruby — Malibu is an unexplored place name worth considering.

A Spanish term of endearment that first appeared on the charts in 2005, and is slowly gaining traction.

A little-known Hebrew name which ranks in the Top 100 in Israel.

This unisex Japanese name has dozens of possible meanings, depending on the kanji characters used.

This highly recognizable surname means "son of Artan," an Irish derivative of the name Art. It's most closely tied to Beatle Paul McCartney — we'd be willing to bet that some of the parents who give this name to their children each year are fans.

Old Testament name that would make a nice alternative to Matteo.

Manet is the accessible, attractive name of an Impressionist great; it could be the next Monet.

Shows some promise via its connection to the growing interest in Ewan.