Dog Names That Start With M

  1. Manha
    • Origin:

      Arabic
    • Meaning:

      "gift from Allah"
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. 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.
  6. Macha
    • Origin:

      Irish
    • Meaning:

      "of the plain"
    • Description:

      Irish goddess and saint name that's strong, to say the least.
  7. 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.
  8. Merry
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "lighthearted, happy"
    • Description:

      She'd better be. Merry is one of the classic names for Christmas babies.
  9. 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.
  10. 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.
  11. 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.
  12. 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.
  13. Moria
    • Origin:

      Greek mythology name
    • Meaning:

      "sacred olive tree"
    • Description:

      Moria was a nymph, sister of Tylus, who played a role in a very complicated story involving a serpent and a life-giving plant. It sounds like and will often be mistaken for the name Mariah, as in Carey.
  14. Millard
    • Origin:

      Latin
    • Meaning:

      "caretaker of the mill"
    • Description:

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

      Diminutive of Myfanwy, Welsh
    • Meaning:

      "my precious little one"
    • Description:

      If Liv can stand on it's own, why not Miv?
  16. Mati
    • Origin:

      Estonian variation of Matthew, Hebrew
    • Meaning:

      "gift of God"
    • Description:

      Friendly and charming international variation of Matthew, common in Estonia.
  17. 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.

  18. 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.
  19. Macario
    • Origin:

      Spanish from Greek
    • Meaning:

      "blessed"
    • Description:

      Macario is used in the modern US, the Spanish form of the ancient Greek Makarios or Latinized Macarius, the name of several early saints. Accessible and worldly, Macario can lead to the friendly nickname Mac.
  20. Medea
    • Origin:

      Greek
    • Meaning:

      "middle"
    • Description:

      Mythological princess who killed her kids. Eternal no-no.