The Hoarder's List of Names
- MILES
- Mileva
Origin:
Serbian; MacedonianMeaning:
"gracious, dear"Description:
Albert Einstein's first wife was Mileva Marić, a Serbian student and his classmate at the Zurich Polytechnic (her childhood nickname was Mitza.) With the newfound popularity of Mila, this obscure Old Slavic name may be discovered outside of its native land.
- Mimosa
Origin:
Latin plant nameDescription:
Adventurous parents are venturing deeper into the garden in search of fresh names, but remember that this also makes for an alcoholic brunch.
- MINA
- Mirabella
Origin:
Italian variation of MirabelleMeaning:
"wonderful"Description:
The short-lived magazine edited by former Vogue chief Grace Mirabella put this beautiful name off-limits for a while, but now it's perfectly fit to join the fashionable Bella pantheon. More distinctive than Isabella.
- MIRABELLE
- Mireia
Origin:
Catalan form of MireilleMeaning:
"to admire"Description:
Popular name in Spain drawn from the Provencal Mireio, coined by the poet Frederic Mistral. Very pretty and, though difficult to spell and pronounce, simpler than the French version.
- Mireya
Origin:
Spanish from LatinMeaning:
"admired"Description:
A pretty and unusual path to the nickname Mira. Mira is the main character in Nobel Prize-winner Federico Mistral's poem of the same name. Mireya Moscoso was Panama's first female president.
- Mirin
Origin:
Irish and Scottish, meaning unknownDescription:
The 6th century Irish saint Mirin emigrated to Scotland and now is the patron saint of both the Glasgow suburb of Paisley and the game of football. Mirren is one modern spelling; the Cornish Merryn, best known as the name of the seacoast town St. Merryn, is also related. The name is usually used for girls.
- Moira
Origin:
Irish, variation of MaryMeaning:
"bitter; beloved; drop of the sea"Description:
Well-established Irish and Scottish name that has never really caught on across the pond. Remembered by an older generation as the beautiful red-haired ballerina in the film The Red Shoes, Moira Shearer.
- Monroe
Origin:
ScottishMeaning:
"mouth of the Roe river"Description:
Monroe is a presidential name which, thanks to the immortal beauty of Marilyn Monroe, is catching on fast for baby girls. Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon chose it for their twin daughter, honoring Marilyn Monroe. Their use of Monroe as a girls’ name did much to revive this Old Man name, a la Sydney, as a newly fashionable choice for girls.
- Morae
Description:
Morae is an uncommon feminine name that may have several possible origins. It could be a variant spelling of Moray or Morey, surname-derived names with Scottish roots relating to the region of Moray, meaning 'settlement by the sea.' Alternatively, it might connect to the Latin 'mora' meaning 'delay' or 'pause,' or possibly relate to the Japanese concept of 'morae,' which refers to phonological timing units. The name has a distinctive, modern feel with its concise two-syllable structure. Morae's rarity makes it an individualistic choice that doesn't immediately evoke specific cultural associations for most people. Its open-ended nature allows bearers to shape their own identity around the name. The name's breathy, flowing sound gives it a contemporary, somewhat ethereal quality that might appeal to parents seeking something truly unique.
- Morea
Description:
Morea is a feminine name with multiple possible origins. It may derive from the Greek place name Morea (a medieval name for the Peloponnese peninsula), or it could be a variant spelling of Moriah, a biblical mountain mentioned in Genesis. Some see it as a variation of Maura, meaning 'dark' or 'moorish' from Latin. In Polynesian languages, particularly Maori, similar names relate to words meaning 'ocean journey.' Morea has never been common in English-speaking countries but has an appealing melodic quality. The name carries an exotic, somewhat mysterious air with its possible connections to ancient geography and biblical history. Its brevity and vowel-rich pronunciation make it accessible across cultural boundaries.
- MOREA
- Morena
Origin:
Slovak, MacedonianMeaning:
"brown-haired"Description:
Morena is the goddess of seasonal rites and rebirth worshipped in Central Europe.
- Myra
Origin:
GreekMeaning:
"sweet-smelling oil"Description:
As with many grandmother-y names, this choice may be coming back into style.
- MYRCELLA
- Merit
- Mélisande
Origin:
French, from GreekMeaning:
"honeybee"Description:
Romantique French name invoking Debussy's haunting score for the opera Pelléas and Mélisande.
- Nadia
Origin:
Russian, ArabicMeaning:
"hope; tender, delicate"Description:
Nadia, an accessible Slavic favorite, has a strong run of popularity in the US in the early 2000s, partially thanks to the character on Lost called Nadia but actually named Noor, but it's since slumped down the rankings. An earlier inspiration was Romanian gymnast Nadia Comaneci, who won the 1976 Olympics.