by baby&family7 letters · From the blog
Melanie
The Latin and Greek word base (melas) means "black" or "dark."
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Names starting with M
Explore 226 first names starting with M, with short explanations and links to their stories on our blog.
Names: 226 · Page 4 of 5
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Mele
The word "mele" means "song" or "poem" in Hawaiian. At the same time, Mele serves as another Hawaiian form of Maria or Mary. The name is given to girls.
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Melek
The name comes from Arabic and is the direct Turkish word for "angel".
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Melina
The frequently cited translation "the honey-sweet" (from Greek meli) is a widespread interpretation. The name can also be an elaboration of Amalia.
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Melis
This name is widely interpreted as a Turkish variant of the Greek name Melissa ("honeybee"). However, there are also hypotheses connecting it with Arabic words. A single, blanket derivation is not verified here.
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Melisande
Melisande is the Old French form of the Germanic name Amalasuintha. The Germanic elements mean "work" or "bravery/diligence" (amal) and "strength" (swind). The name has a long historical tradition among the European high nobility.
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Melusine
Melusine is a well-known water fairy of European legend. The etymological origin of the name has not been definitively resolved. It is usually traced back to French or Celtic roots, but a generalized meaning cannot be substantiated.
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Memphis
The city in Tennessee was named after the ancient Egyptian capital. The documented ancient Egyptian meaning is "enduring and beautiful."
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Mercedes
This name derives from the title “María de las Mercedes.” The Spanish word “merced” is documented to mean “grace” or “mercy.” In Germany, the name is strongly associated with the car brand, which is worth keeping in mind when choosing a name.
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Měrćin
This is the Sorbian form of Martin. The Latin linguistic root means "dedicated to Mars (the god of war)."
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Meredith
This name traces back to the Old Welsh name Maredudd. The linguistic root consists of "mared" (sea) and "iudd" (lord). Historically, Meredith was an exclusively male first name in Wales, but today in the English-speaking world it is predominantly given to girls.
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Meret
The older etymological meaning of this name family is not definitively resolved. In the German-speaking area, the name is primarily documented as a variant of Margarete (Greek for "pearl"), but some interpretations also associate it with Egyptian roots. A single broad meaning would be too imprecise here.
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Merida
A Latin derivation from "emerita" (the meritorious woman) is often cited for this name, which traces back to Spanish place names. A Celtic or Scottish naming history is not substantiated for this first name; it represents a modern interpretation for the Scottish film setting.
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Měrka
Documented as a Sorbian short form of names containing the root "měr," such as Měrosława. This Slavic root means "peace."
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Merle
There are two documented derivations for this name that must be explained separately. In French, the word "merle" securely means "blackbird". However, the name can also be a short form of the Celtic name Muriel, whose meaning is often interpreted as "shining sea".
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Merlin
The origin lies in the Welsh name Myrddin. The frequently cited translation "sea fortress" is a common interpretation; the exact historical etymology remains complex.
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Mert
This given name comes from Persian and means "manly" or "courageous." Thanks to its brevity, it pairs well with long surnames.
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Meryem
This is the documented Turkish and Arabic form of the name Maria. The original Egyptian-Hebrew word meaning of this name family has not been conclusively resolved historically; "the beloved" or "the rebellious one" is often cited.
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Mia
Mia is documented as a short form of Maria. The exact meaning of Maria (and thus also of Mia) is not definitively established historically, but traces back to Hebrew. Common interpretations are "the beloved" or "the rebellious". In the German-speaking area, Mia is almost always pronounced with two syllables (Mi-a).
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Michael
A Hebrew name phrased as a rhetorical question. Its documented translation is "Who is like God?".
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Michail
The Russian form of Michael. The Hebrew derivation is a rhetorical question meaning: "Who is like God?".
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Michele
The Italian form of Michael. The Hebrew root is a rhetorical question meaning "Who is like God?". Pay attention to the pronunciation here: In Italian, the "ch" is pronounced like a "k" (Mi-ke-le).
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Mick
Documented as an English short form of Michael. The origin is Hebrew and means "Who is like God?". Mick Jagger made this short form world-famous. As an independent first name, it feels dynamic and straightforward.
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Midori
This name is the direct Japanese word for the color "green." The meaning is thus established. It is frequently associated with nature and freshness.
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Mieke
Mieke is documented as a Dutch and Low German diminutive of Maria. The meaning of Maria itself has historically not been determined beyond doubt; "the beloved" or "the rebellious one" are often mentioned.
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Miel
Miel is documented as a Flemish short form of Emiel. This traces back to the Roman family name of the Aemilii.
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Miguel
The Spanish form of Michael. The Hebrew derivation is a rhetorical question meaning "Who is like God?".
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Mihai
The Romanian form of Michael. The Hebrew derivation is a rhetorical question meaning "Who is like God?".
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Mika
A Finnish short form of Mikael (Michael). The Hebrew derivation is a rhetorical question: "Who is like God?".
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Mikael
The Finnish and Swedish spelling of Michael. The Hebrew foundation of the name means "Who is like God?".
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Mikaela
Known through American alpine ski racer Mikaela Shiffrin. It is a feminine form of Michael. The Hebrew root means "Who is like God?". The spelling with "k" has a Nordic or Slavic feel and distinguishes itself from Michaela, which is more common in German-speaking regions.
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Mikołaj
The Polish form of Nicholas. The Greek root words are "nike" (victory) and "laos" (people).
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Mil
Mil traces back as a short form to Emile or Emil. Its origin is established: The name derives from the Latin family name of the Aemilii. The frequently mentioned translation "the eager one" is an interpretation of this family name and is not definitively settled. Mil is gentle, short, and easy to pronounce internationally.
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Mila
In Slavic name history, Mila is a short form of names containing the element milŭ, meaning "dear" or "beloved." In Nordic naming practices, there are further short forms, such as via Milla to Camilla or Emilia. The Slavic meaning does not automatically apply to these forms. The name is short, ends in a vowel, and is pronounced exactly as it is written.
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Milada
A feminine first name that, like Milan, traces back to the Slavic root "mil" (dear, graceful, gracious).
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Milagros
This Spanish first name derives directly from the vocabulary word milagro, which means "miracle." The name has a strong Catholic connection (Maria de los Milagros). In Spain and Latin America, it is established; in German-speaking countries, it stands out and often requires an explanation of its spelling.
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Milan
The Slavic name Milan belongs to the element milŭ, meaning "dear" or "gracious." Independent of this, Hindi milan, from Sanskrit milana, means "meeting" or "encounter." This etymological history is distinct from the Slavic one. A deliberate reference to the city of Milan represents yet another naming motive.
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Milena
A name from the Slavic linguistic area. The word base mil means "dear" or "precious."
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Miles
The older etymological meaning of this family of names is not definitively resolved. The name is widely associated with the Latin word "miles" (soldier), but could also trace back to Germanic or Slavic roots. Providing a single generalized meaning would be too imprecise here.
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Milica
The name is based on the Slavic root "mil," which means "dear," "beloved," or "gracious." Milica is a traditional Serbian name known throughout the entire Balkan region.
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Milo
Milo is handed down as a Germanic name form and, independently of that, as a Latin form of the Greek Milon. The original meanings are not definitively resolved. Connecting the Germanic name to Slavic milŭ, "dear," is one possible explanation.
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Milos
Like Milan, Milos belongs to the Slavic family of names centered around the syllable "mil." The translation "the dear one" or "the beloved" is documented. In German, some stumble over the pronunciation: the "s" at the end is pronounced as "sh" in the original (Milosh).
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Miloš
This name also belongs to the large family of names centered around the Slavic root "mil" (dear, beloved). It is a historically deeply rooted given name, particularly in Serbia.
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Mimi
An international pet form that became independent from names such as Maria, Wilhelmina, or Miriam. Its meaning depends on the respective base name.
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Min
This name is often translated as "quick" or "clever" when based on the character 敏. It works for both genders.
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Min-jun
This name is based on Hanja. The frequently cited translation "the clever and talented one" is a common interpretation based on the most frequent characters for "Min" (clever, quick) and "Jun" (talented, handsome). However, the actual meaning depends on the characters chosen individually.
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Mina
Mina can be a short form of names ending in -mina, such as Wilhelmina. In addition, there are independent name histories: Persian "enamel," Sanskrit "fish," and Pashto "love." None of these translations applies universally to all bearers of the name.
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Minato
The word root of this name means "harbor" (湊). This is a documented and frequently used spelling in Japan, which is why this meaning is considered verified.
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