LACEYFrom a surname which was a variant of LACYLACYFrom a surname which was derived from Lassy, the name of a town in Normandy. The name of the town was Gaulish in origin, perhaps deriving from a personal name which was Latinized as Lascius.LÆRKEGender: Feminine
Usage: Danish
Means "lark" in Danish.LAINEGender: Feminine
Usage: Estonian
Means "wave" in Estonian.LAINEYVariant of LANEYLALALALEHMeans "tulip" in Persian.LANAShort form of ALANA (English) or SVETLANA (Russian). In the English-speaking world, it was popularized by actress Lana Turner (1921-1995).LANEYDiminutive of ELAINELANIGender: Feminine
Usage: Hawaiian
Means "sky, heaven" in Hawaiian.LAOISELARISSAVariant of LARISA. It has been commonly used as an English given name only since the 20th century. In 1991 this name was given to one of the moons of Neptune, in honour of the mythological character.LARKFrom the English word for the type of songbird.LATOYACombination of the popular prefix La with the name TOYA.LAURAGender: Feminine
Usage: English, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Romanian, Finnish, Estonian, Hungarian, Polish, Slovene, Croatian, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, German, Dutch, Late Roman
Pronounced: LAWR-ə (English), LOW-rah (Spanish, Italian, Polish, German, Dutch)
Feminine form of the Late Latin name Laurus, which meant "laurel". This meaning was favourable, since in ancient Rome the leaves of laurel trees were used to create victors' garlands. The name was borne by the 9th-century Spanish martyr Saint Laura, who was a nun thrown into a vat of molten lead by the Moors. It was also the name of the subject of poems by the 14th-century Italian poet Petrarch.As an English name, Laura has been used since the 13th century. A famous bearer was Laura Secord (1775-1868), a Canadian heroine during the War of 1812.
LAUREFrench form of LAURALAURENVariant or feminine form of LAURENCE (1). Originally a masculine name, it was first popularized as a feminine name by actress Betty Jean Perske (1924-), who used Lauren Bacall as her stage name.LAURENTIAGender: Feminine
Usage: Ancient Roman
Feminine form of Laurentius (see LAURENCE (1)).LAYLAMeans "night" in Arabic. This was the name of the object of romantic poems written by the 7th-century poet known as Qays. The story of Qays and Layla became a popular romance in medieval Arabia and Persia. The name became used in the English-speaking world after the 1970 release of the song 'Layla' by Derek and the Dominos, the title of which was inspired by the medieval story.LEAGender: Feminine
Usage: German, Dutch, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Finnish, Slovene, Croatian
Pronounced: LE-ah (German)
Form of LEAHLEAHGender: Feminine
Usage: English, Hebrew, Biblical, Biblical Hebrew
Other Scripts: לֵאָה (Hebrew)
Pronounced: LEE-ə (English)
From the Hebrew name לֵאָה (Le'ah) which was probably derived from the Hebrew word לְאָה (le'ah) meaning "weary". Alternatively it might derive from a Chaldean name meaning "mistress" or "ruler" in Akkadian. In the Old Testament, Leah is the first wife of Jacob and the mother of seven of his children. Although this name was used by Jews in the Middle Ages, it was not typical as an English Christian name until after the Protestant Reformation, being common among the Puritans.LEIGHFrom a surname which was a variant of LEE.LEILAGender: Feminine
Other Scripts: ليلى (Arabic)
Pronounced: LAY-lə (English), LEE-lə (English), LIE-lə (English)
Variant of LAYLA. This spelling was used by Lord Byron for characters in 'The Giaour' (1813) and 'Don Juan' (1819), and it is through him that the name was introduced to the English-speaking world.LEILANIGender: Feminine
Usage: Hawaiian
Means "heavenly flowers" in Hawaiian.LELIAGender: Feminine
Usage: Italian
Italian form of LAELIALENAGender: Feminine
Usage: Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, German, Polish, Russian, English, Italian, Portuguese
Other Scripts: Лена (Russian)
Pronounced: LE-nah (German), LYE-nah (Russian)
Scandinavian, German and Polish short form of HELENA or MAGDALENA, and a Russian short form of YELENA.LENELENILEOCADIAGender: Feminine
Usage: Spanish, Late Roman
Late Latin name perhaps derived from Greek λευκος (leukos) meaning "bright, clear, white". Saint Leocadia was a 3rd-century martyr from Spain.LEONE (2)Gender: Feminine
Usage: English
Variant of LEONALEONIEGerman feminine form of LEONIUSLEONORGender: Feminine
Usage: Spanish, Portuguese
Spanish and Portuguese form of ELEANOR. It was brought to Spain in the 12th-century by Eleanor of England, who married king Alfonso VIII of Castile.LEONOREGerman short form of ELEANORLEYLAVariant of LEILALIBERTYSimply from the English word liberty, derived from Latin libertas, a derivative of liber "free". Interestingly, since 1880 this name has charted on the American popularity lists in three different periods: in 1918 (at the end of World War I), in 1976 (the American bicentennial), and after 2001 (during the War on Terrorism).LIEKEDutch diminutive of ANGELIQUE or names ending in lia.LIENShort form of CAROLIEN and other names ending in lien.LIESGerman and Dutch diminutive of ELISABETHLIESBETHDutch variant of ELISABETHLIESEGerman and Dutch diminutive of ELISABETHLIESELGerman diminutive of ELISABETHLIESELOTTEVariant of LISELOTTELIESLGender: Feminine
Usage: German
German short form of ELISABETHLILA (1)Means "play, amusement" in Sanskrit.LILIGerman and French diminutive of ELISABETH, also sometimes connected to the German word lilie meaning "lily".LILIANVariant of LILLIANLILIANAGender: Feminine
Usage: Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Romanian, Polish, English
Pronounced: lee-LYAH-nah (Italian, Polish), lil-ee-AN-ə (English)
Latinate form of LILLIANLILIBETHGender: Feminine
Usage: English
LILITHGender: Feminine
Usage: Near Eastern Mythology, Judeo-Christian Legend
Pronounced: LIL-ith (English)
Derived from Akkadian lilitu meaning "of the night". This was the name of a demon in ancient Assyrian myths. In Jewish tradition she was Adam's first wife, sent out of Eden and replaced by Eve because she would not submit to him. The offspring of Adam and Lilith were the evil spirits of the world.LILLILILLIANProbably originally a diminutive of ELIZABETH. It may also be considered an elaborated form of LILY, from the Latin word for "lily" lilium. This name has been used in England since the 16th century.LILOShort form of LISELOTTELILOULILYFrom the name of the flower, a symbol of purity. The word is ultimately derived from Latin lilium.LINA (2)Short form of names ending in lina.LINGFrom Chinese 灵 "spirit, soul" or 铃 "bell, chime".LINNGender: Feminine
Usage: Swedish
Short form of LINNÉALINNETEither a variant of LYNETTE or else from the name of the small bird, a type of finch.LIORMeans "my light" in Hebrew.LISAGender: Feminine
Usage: English, German, Dutch, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Italian
Pronounced: LEE-sə (English), LEE-zah (German)
Short form of ELIZABETH, ELISABETH, ELISABET or ELISABETTA. This is the name of the subject of one of the world's most famous paintings, the 'Mona Lisa', the portrait of Lisa del Giocondo by Leonardo da Vinci.LISBETHGerman short form of ELISABETHLISEGender: Feminine
Usage: French, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, English
Pronounced: LEE-se (Swedish, Norwegian, Danish), LEES (English), LEEZ (English)
LISELOTTELIV (1)Derived from the Old Norse name Hlíf meaning "protection". Its use has been influenced by the modern Scandinavian word liv meaning "life".LIVNAMeans "white" in Hebrew.LIZShort form of ELIZABETH. This is the familiar name of actress Elizabeth Taylor (1932-).LIZAGender: Feminine
Usage: English, Russian, Hungarian
Other Scripts: Лиза (Russian)
Pronounced: LIE-zə (English)
Short form of ELIZABETH or YELIZAVETALOESFeminine diminutive of LODEWIJKLOIS (1)Gender: Feminine
Usage: English, Biblical, Biblical Latin, Biblical Greek
Other Scripts: Λωις (Ancient Greek)
Pronounced: LO-is (English)
Possibly derived from Greek λωιων (loion) meaning "more desirable" or "better". Lois is mentioned in the New Testament as the mother of Eunice and the grandmother of Timothy. As an English name, it came into use after the Protestant Reformation. In fiction, this is the name of the girlfriend of the comic book hero Superman.LOLALONDONFrom the name of the capital city of the United Kingdom, the meaning of which is uncertain. As a surname it was borne by the American author Jack London (1876-1916).LOREDANACreated by the French author George Sand for a character in her novel 'Mattea' (1833) and later used by the Italian author Luciano Zuccoli in his novel 'L'amore de Loredana' (1908). It was possibly based on the Venetian surname Loredan, which was derived from the place name Loreo.LORELEIFrom a Germanic name meaning "luring rock". This is the name of a rock headland on the Rhine River. Legends say that a maiden named the Lorelei lives on the rock and lures fishermen to their death with her song.LORENZAItalian and Spanish feminine form of Laurentius (see LAURENCE (1)).LORETTAEither an elaboration of LORA or a variant of LAURETTA. It is also sometimes used as a variant of LORETO.LORRAINEFrom the name of a region in France, originally meaning "kingdom of LOTHAR". Lothar was a Frankish king, the great-grandson of Charlemagne, whose realm was in the part of France that is now called Lorraine, or in German Lothringen (from Latin Lothari regnum). As a given name, it has been used in the English-speaking world since the late 19th century, perhaps due to its similar sound with Laura. It became popular after World War I when the region was in the news, as it was contested between Germany and France.LOTTAShort form of CHARLOTTALOTTELOTTIEGender: Feminine
Usage: English
LOULOUELLACombination of LOU and the popular name suffix ella.LOUISALatinate feminine form of LOUISLOUISEFrench feminine form of LOUISLOUISETTEGender: Feminine
Usage: French
Diminutive of LOUISELOUIZAGreek feminine form of LOUISLOURDESGender: Feminine
Pronounced: LOOR-des (Spanish), LUWRD (French), LAWRDZ (English)
From the name of a French town. It became a popular center of pilgrimage after a young girl from the town had visions of the Virgin Mary in a nearby grotto.LOVISASwedish feminine form of LOUISLUANAGender: Feminine
Usage: English, Italian, Portuguese
Pronounced: loo-AN-ə (English), loo-AH-nah (Italian)
From the movie 'Bird of Paradise' (1932), in which it was borne by the main character, a Polynesian girl. The movie was based on a 1912 play of the same name set in Hawaii.LUANNALUANNEVariant of LUANNLUCA (2)Hungarian and Croatian form of LUCIALUCASTAGender: Feminine
Usage: Literature
This name was first used by the poet Richard Lovelace for a collection of poems called 'Lucasta' (1649). The poems were dedicated to Lucasta, a nickname for the woman he loved Lucy Sacheverel, who he called lux casta "pure light".LUCEItalian and French variant of LUCIA. This also means "light" in Italian.LUCÍAGender: Feminine
Usage: Spanish
Pronounced: loo-THE-ah (Spanish), loo-SE-ah (Latin American Spanish)
Spanish form of LUCIALUCIAGender: Feminine
Usage: Italian, German, English, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Romanian, Slovak, Ancient Roman
Pronounced: loo-CHEE-ah (Italian), LOO-tsee-ah (German), LOO-shə (English), loo-SEE-ə (English)
Feminine form of LUCIUS. Saint Lucia was a 4th-century martyr from Syracuse. She was said to have had her eyes gouged out, and thus is the patron saint of the blind. She was widely revered in the Middle Ages, and her name has been used throughout Christian Europe (in various spellings). It has been used in the England since the 12th-century, usually in the spellings Lucy or Luce.LUCIANAGender: Feminine
Usage: Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Ancient Roman
Pronounced: loo-CHAH-nah (Italian), loo-THYAH-nah (Spanish), loo-SYAH-nah (Latin American Spanish)
Feminine form of LUCIANUSLUCIEFrench and Czech form of LUCIALUCIENNEFeminine form of LUCIENLUCILLEFrench form of LUCILLA. A famous bearer was American comedienne Lucille Ball (1911-1989).LUCINAGender: Feminine
Usage: Roman Mythology
Derived from Latin lucus meaning "grove", but later associated with lux "light". This was the name of a Roman goddess of childbirth.LUCYEnglish form of LUCIA, in use since the Middle Ages.LUDOVICALatinate feminine form of LUDWIGLUELLAVariant of LOUELLALUÍSAFeminine form of LUÍSLUISAFeminine form of LUISLUISEGerman form of LOUISELUIZAPolish and Portuguese feminine form of LOUISLUJAYNMeans "silver" in Arabic.LULADiminutive of LOUISE and names that begin with Lu.LULEGender: Feminine
Usage: Albanian
Means "flower" in Albanian.LULU (1)Diminutive of names that begin with Lu, especially LUISE.LUMIGender: Feminine
Usage: Finnish
Means "snow" in Finnish.LUNAGender: Feminine
Usage: Roman Mythology
Means "the moon" in Latin. Luna was the Roman goddess of the moon, frequently depicted driving a white chariot through the sky.LUNEDVariant of ELUNED. In the Mabinogion, a collection of tales from Welsh myth, she is a servant of the Lady of the Fountain who rescues the knight Owain.LUPEShort form of GUADALUPELUTGARDISGender: Feminine
Usage: Ancient Germanic (Latinized)
LUULEGender: Feminine
Usage: Estonian
Means "poetry" in Estonian.LUUSDutch and Limburgish form of LUCIALUZMeans "light" in Spanish. It is taken from the title of the Virgin Mary, Nuestra Señora de la Luz, meaning "Our Lady of Light".LUZIAGender: Feminine
Usage: Portuguese, German
Portuguese and German form of LUCIALYDIAGender: Feminine
Usage: English, German, Finnish, Biblical, Old Church Slavic, Biblical Latin, Biblical Greek
Other Scripts: Λυδια (Ancient Greek), Лѷдіа (Church Slavic)
Pronounced: LID-ee-ə (English), LUY-dee-ah (German)
Means "from Lydia" in Greek. Lydia was a region on the west coast of Asia Minor. In the New Testament this is the name of a woman converted to Christianity by Saint Paul. In the modern era the name has been in use since the Protestant Reformation.LYKKEGender: Feminine
Usage: Danish
Means "good fortune, happiness" in Danish.LYNNFrom an English surname which was derived from Welsh llyn "lake". Before the start of the 20th century it was primarily used for boys, but it has since come to be more common for girls. In some cases it may be thought of as a short form of LINDA or names that end in lyn or line.LYRICMeans simply "lyric, songlike" from the English word, ultimately derived from Greek λυρικος (lyrikos).MAAYANMeans "spring of water" in Hebrew.MABELMedieval feminine form of AMABILIS. This spelling and Amabel were common during the Middle Ages, though they became rare after the 15th century. It was revived in the 19th century after the publication of C. M. Yonge's novel 'The Heir of Redclyffe' (1854), which featured a character named Mabel (as well as one named Amabel).MACKENZIEFrom the Gaelic surname Mac Coinnich, which means "son of COINNEACH". A famous bearer of the surname was William Lyon MacKenzie (1795-1861), a Canadian journalist and political rebel. As a feminine given name, it was popularized by the American actress Mackenzie Phillips (1959-).MACYFrom an English surname which was from various towns named Massy in France. The towns themselves were originally named from a Gallo-Roman personal name that was Latinized as Maccius. This is the name of a chain of American department stores founded by Rowland Hussey Macy (1822-1877).MÄDCHENGender: Feminine
Usage: Various
Means "girl" in German. It is not used as a name in Germany itself.MADELEINEGender: Feminine
Pronounced: ma-də-LEN (French), mad-LEN (French), MAD-ə-lin (English), MAD-ə-lien (English)
French form of MAGDALENEMADELINEGender: Feminine
Pronounced: MAD-ə-lin (English), MAD-ə-lien (English), ma-də-LEEN (French), mad-LEEN (French)
English form of MAGDALENE. This is the name of the heroine in a series of children's books by Ludwig Bemelmans, first published 1939.MADISONFrom an English surname meaning "son of MAUD". It was not commonly used as a feminine name until after the movie 'Splash' (1984), in which the main character adopted it as her name after seeing a street sign for Madison Avenue in New York City. A famous bearer of the surname was James Madison (1751-1836), one of the authors of the American constitution who later served as president.MADONNAFrom a title of the Virgin Mary meaning "my lady" in Italian. A famous bearer of the name is American singer Madonna Ciccone (1958-), known simply as Madonna.MAEVariant of MAY. A famous bearer was American actress Mae West (1893-1980), whose birth name was Mary.MAËLYSFeminine form of MAËLMAEVAGender: Feminine
Usage: Pacific/Polynesian, French
Means "welcome" in Tahitian.MAFALDAGender: Feminine
Usage: Italian, Portuguese
Italian and Portuguese form of MATILDAMAGALIOccitan form of MAGDALENEMAGALIEGender: Feminine
Usage: French
Variant of MAGALIMAGDALENAGender: Feminine
Usage: German, Dutch, Swedish, Norwegian, Spanish, Occitan, Slovene, Czech, Polish, Bulgarian, Macedonian, Croatian, Romanian, Finnish, English
Other Scripts: Магдалена (Bulgarian, Macedonian)
Pronounced: mahk-dah-LE-nah (German), mahg-dah-LE-nah (Polish), mag-da-LAY-na (English)
Latinate form of MAGDALENEMAHALIAGender: Feminine
Usage: English
Variant of MAHALAMAI (1)Gender: Feminine
Usage: Vietnamese
Means "apricot blossom" in Vietnamese.MAIA (3)Gender: Feminine
Usage: Basque
Basque form of MARIAMAIALENGender: Feminine
Usage: Basque
Basque form of MAGDALENEMAIARAGender: Feminine
Usage: Native American, Tupí
Means "wise" in Tupí.MAIMUGender: Feminine
Usage: Estonian
Means "little" in Estonian.MAISIEMAITE (2)Gender: Feminine
Usage: Basque
Means "lovable" in Basque.MAJA (1)Gender: Feminine
Usage: German, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Polish, Slovene, Croatian, Serbian
Other Scripts: Маја (Serbian)
Pronounced: MIE-ah (German, Polish)
Form of MAIA (1)MAKENNAVariant of MCKENNAMALAIMeans "garland of flowers" in Thai.MALAIKAMeans "angels" from the plural of Arabic ملك (malak).MALIMeans "flower" in Thai.MALIAGender: Feminine
Usage: Hawaiian
MALINSwedish and Norwegian short form of MAGDALENEMALINA (2)Gender: Feminine
Usage: Bulgarian, Serbian, Polish (Rare)
Other Scripts: Малина (Bulgarian, Serbian)
Pronounced: mah-LEE-nah (Polish)
Means "raspberry" in several Slavic languages.MALINIMeans "fragrant" in Sanskrit.MALKAMeans "queen" in Hebrew.MAMIEMANAMIFrom Japanese 愛 (mana) "love, affection" combined with 美 (mi) "beautiful" or 海 (mi) "sea, ocean".MANDYDiminutive of AMANDAMANJULAMeans "lovely, beautiful" in Sanskrit.MARCELLAGender: Feminine
Usage: Italian, German, Ancient Roman
Feminine form of MARCELLUSMARCIAGender: Feminine
Usage: English, Spanish, Ancient Roman
Pronounced: MAHR-shə (English), MAHR-see-ə (English), MAHR-thyah (Spanish), MAHR-syah (Latin American Spanish)
Feminine form of MARCIUS. It was borne by a few very minor saints. It has been used as a given name in the English-speaking world since the 18th century.MARCYDiminutive of MARCIAMARENDanish form of MARINAMARGALITMeans "pearl" in Hebrew, ultimately from Greek μαργαριτης (margarites).MARGARETDerived from Latin Margarita, which was from Greek μαργαριτης (margarites) meaning "pearl", probably ultimately a borrowing from Sanskrit. Saint Margaret, the patron of expectant mothers, was martyred at Antioch in the 4th century. Later legends told of her escape from a dragon, with which she was often depicted in medieval art. The saint was popular during the Middle Ages, and her name has been widely used in the Christian world.Other saints by this name include a queen of Scotland and a princess of Hungary. It was also borne by Queen Margaret I of Denmark, who united Denmark, Sweden, and Norway in the 14th century. Famous literary bearers include American writer Margaret Mitchell (1900-1949), the author of 'Gone with the Wind', and Canadian writer Margaret Atwood (1939-).
MARGARETHADutch and German form of MARGARETMARGARETHEGerman and Danish form of MARGARETMARGERYMedieval English form of MARGARETMARIAGender: Feminine & Masculine
Usage: Italian, Portuguese, Catalan, Occitan, German, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Dutch, Frisian, Greek, Polish, Romanian, English, Finnish, Icelandic, Corsican, Basque, Biblical Greek, Biblical Latin, Old Church Slavic
Other Scripts: Μαρια (Greek), Маріа (Church Slavic)
Pronounced: mah-REE-ah (Italian, German, Dutch), MAHR-yah (Polish), mə-REE-ə (English)
Latin form of Greek Μαρια, from Hebrew מִרְיָם (see MARY). Maria is the usual form of the name in many European languages, as well as a secondary form in other languages such as English (where the common spelling is Mary). In some countries, for example Germany, Poland and Italy, Maria is occasionally used as a masculine middle name.This was the name of two ruling queens of Portugal. It was also borne by the Habsburg queen Maria Theresa (1717-1780), whose inheritance of the domains of her father, the Holy Roman Emperor Charles VI, began the War of the Austrian Succession.
MARIAMGender: Feminine
Usage: Biblical Greek, Georgian, Armenian, Arabic
Other Scripts: Μαριαμ (Ancient Greek), მარიამ (Georgian), Մարիամ (Armenian), مريم (Arabic)
Form of MARIA used in the Greek Old Testament, as well as the Georgian and Armenian form. It is also a variant transcription of Arabic MARYAM.MARIANNAGender: Feminine
Usage: Italian, English, Hungarian, Slovak, Polish, Greek
Other Scripts: Μαριαννα (Greek)
Pronounced: mer-ee-AN-ə (English), mar-ee-AN-ə (English), mahr-YAHN-nah (Polish)
Combination of MARIA and ANNA. It has been confused with the Roman name MARIANA to the point that it is no longer easy to separate the two forms. It is sometimes also used as a Latinized form of MARIAMNE.MARICRUZGender: Feminine
Usage: Spanish
MARIEGender: Feminine
Usage: French, Czech, German, English, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish
Pronounced: ma-REE (French), mah-REE (German)
French and Czech form of MARIA. A notable bearer of this name was Marie Antoinette, the queen of France who was executed by guillotine during the French Revolution. Another was Marie Curie, a physicist and chemist who studied radioactivity with her husband Pierre.MARIETTAGender: Feminine
Usage: Italian
Italian diminutive of MARIAMARIGOLDFrom the name of the flower, which comes from a combination of MARY and the English word gold.MARIKAGender: Feminine
Usage: Czech, Slovak, Polish, Hungarian, Greek, Finnish, Estonian
Other Scripts: Μαρικα (Greek)
Diminutive of MARIAMARIKEDutch diminutive of MARIAMARILOUMARILYNCombination of MARY and lyn. It has been used since the start of the 20th century. A famous bearer was the American actress Marilyn Monroe (1926-1962).MARISAGender: Feminine
Usage: Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, English
Pronounced: mah-REE-zah (Italian), mah-REE-sah (Spanish), mə-RIS-ə (English)
MARISOLGender: Feminine
Usage: Spanish
MARISSAVariant of MARISAMARITSwedish and Norwegian form of MARGARETMARJANIGender: Feminine
Usage: Eastern African, Swahili
Means "coral" in Swahili, originally a borrowing from Arabic.MARJORIEMedieval variant of MARGERY, influenced by the name of the herb marjoram. After the Middle Ages this name was rare, but it was revived at the end of the 19th century.MARLAShortened form of MARLENEMARLENEBlend of MARIA and MAGDALENE. It refers, therefore, to Mary Magdalene, a character in the New Testament. The name was popularized by the German actress and singer Marlene Dietrich (1901-1992), whose real name was Maria Magdalene von Losch.MARLEYFrom a surname which was taken from a place name meaning "pleasant wood" in Old English. A famous bearer of the surname was the Jamaican musician Bob Marley (1945-1981).MARLOESMARNIGender: Feminine
Usage: Hebrew
Means "rejoice" in Hebrew.MARNIE (1)Variant of MARNA. This name was brought to public attention by Alfred Hitchcock's movie 'Marnie' (1964).MARNIE (2)Gender: Feminine
Usage: Hebrew
Variant of MARNIMARSAILIGender: Feminine
Usage: Scottish
MÄRTAGender: Feminine
Usage: Swedish
Swedish short form of MARGARETAMARTAGender: Feminine
Usage: Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Catalan, Romanian, Polish, Slovene, Bulgarian, Serbian, Croatian, Macedonian, Swedish, Norwegian, Czech, Slovak
Other Scripts: Марта (Bulgarian, Serbian, Macedonian)
Pronounced: MAHR-tah (Spanish, Italian, Polish, Czech)
MARTEGender: Feminine
Usage: Norwegian
Norwegian variant of MARTHAMARTHAGender: Feminine
Usage: English, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Greek, Biblical, Old Church Slavic, Biblical Latin, Biblical Greek
Other Scripts: Μαρθα (Greek), Марѳа (Church Slavic)
Pronounced: MAHR-thə (English)
From Aramaic מרתא (marta') meaning "lady, mistress". In the New Testament this is the name of the sister of Lazarus and Mary of Bethany. It was not used in England until after the Protestant Reformation. A notable bearer was Martha Washington (1731-1802), the wife of the first American president George Washington.MARTHEFrench and German form of MARTHAMARVAFeminine form of MARVINMARYUsual English form of Maria, which was the Latin form of the New Testament Greek names Μαριαμ (Mariam) and Μαρια (Maria) - the spellings are interchangeable - which were from the Hebrew name מִרְיָם (Miryam). The meaning is not known for certain, but there are several theories including "sea of bitterness", "rebelliousness", and "wished for child". However it was most likely originally an Egyptian name, perhaps derived in part from mry "beloved" or mr "love".This is the name of several New Testament characters, most importantly Mary the virgin mother of Jesus, and Mary Magdalene. Due to the Virgin Mary this name has been very popular in the Christian world, though at certain times in some cultures it has been considered too holy for everyday use. In England it has been used since the 12th century, and it has been among the most common feminine names since the 16th century. The Latinized form Maria is also used in English as well as in several other languages.
This name has been borne by two queens of England, as well as a Queen of Scotland, Mary Queen of Scots. Another notable bearer was Mary Shelley (1797-1851), the author of 'Frankenstein'. A famous fictional character by this name was Mary Poppins, from the children's books by P. L. Travers.
MARYAMArabic and Iranian form of MARIA. In Iran it is also the name of a flower, the tuberose, which is named after the Virgin Mary.MARYLOUMATHILDAVariant of MATILDAMATHILDEGender: Feminine
Usage: French, German, Dutch, Norwegian, Danish
Pronounced: ma-TEELD (French), mah:-TIL-də (Dutch)
MATILDAFrom the Germanic name Mahthildis meaning "strength in battle", from the elements maht "might, strength" and hild "battle". Saint Matilda was the wife of the 10th-century German king Henry I the Fowler. The name was brought to England by the Normans, being borne by the wife of William the Conqueror himself. It was popular until the 15th century in England, usually in the vernacular form Maud. Both forms were revived by the 19th century. This name appears in the popular Australian folk song 'Waltzing Matilda', written in 1895.MATILDESpanish, Portuguese and Italian form of MATILDAMAVISFrom the name of the type of bird, also called the song thrush, ultimately derived from Old French. It was first used as a given name by the British author Marie Corelli, who used it for a character in her novel 'The Sorrows of Satan' (1895).MÁXIMASpanish feminine form of MAXIMUSMAXIMILIANAGender: Feminine
Usage: Ancient Roman
Feminine form of MAXIMILIANUSMAXIMILIENNEGender: Feminine
Usage: French
French feminine form of MAXIMILIANMAXINEFeminine form of MAX. It has been commonly used only since the beginning of the 20th century.MAYDerived from the name of the month of May, which derives from Maia, the name of a Roman goddess. May is also another name of the hawthorn flower. It is also used as a diminutive of MARY, MARGARET or MABEL.MAYA (3)Derived from Hebrew מַיִם (mayim) "water".MAYBELLEGender: Feminine
Usage: English
Variant of MABELMAYIMGender: Feminine
Usage: ?
Means "water" in Hebrew. This is the name of a Jewish folk dance.MBALIGender: Feminine
Usage: Southern African, Zulu
Means "flower" in Zulu.MCKENNAFrom the Gaelic surname Mac Cionaodha, which means "son of CIONAODH".MCKENZIEVariant of MACKENZIEMEADOWFrom the English word meadow, ultimately from Old English mædwe.MECHTHILDGerman variant of MATHILDEMELBAFrom the surname of the Australian opera singer Nellie Melba (1861-1931). This was a stage name that she got from the name of the city Melbourne, where she was born.MELEGender: Feminine
Usage: Hawaiian
Means "song" in Hawaiian. This name is also used as a Hawaiian and Samoan form of MARY.MELITTAGender: Feminine
Usage: Ancient Greek, German
Other Scripts: Μελιττα (Ancient Greek)
Pronounced: me-LI-tah (German)
Ancient Attic Greek variant of MELISSAMELODYFrom the English word melody, which is derived (via Old French and Late Latin) from Greek μελος (melos) "song" combined with αειδω (aeido) "to sing".MERCYFrom the English word mercy, ultimately from Latin merces "wages, reward", a derivative of merx "goods, wares". This was one of the virtue names adopted by the Puritans in the 17th century.MEREDITHFrom the Welsh name Maredudd or Meredydd, possibly meaning "great lord" or "sea lord". Since the mid-1920s it has been used more often for girls than for boys in English-speaking countries, though it is still a masculine name in Wales. A famous bearer of this name as surname was the English novelist and poet George Meredith (1828-1909).MERYEMGender: Feminine
Usage: Turkish
Turkish form of Miriam (see MARY).METTEDanish and Norwegian diminutive of MARGARETMIAGender: Feminine
Usage: Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Dutch, German, English
Pronounced: MEE-ah (Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Dutch, German), MEE-ə (English)
Scandinavian, Dutch and German diminutive of MARIAMICAELAGender: Feminine
Usage: Italian, Spanish, Portuguese
Italian, Spanish and Portuguese feminine form of MICHAELMICHAELAFeminine form of MICHAELMICHAL (2)MICHELINEGender: Feminine
Usage: French
French feminine diminutive of MICHELMICHELLEFrench feminine form of MICHEL. It has been common in the English-speaking world since the middle of the 20th century.MIEKEDutch diminutive of MARIAMIKA (2)From Japanese 美 (mi) "beautiful" combined with 香 (ka) "smell, perfume" or 加 (ka) "increase".MIKAELAFeminine form of MICHAELMIKHALBiblical Hebrew form of MICHAL (2)MIKKELINEGender: Feminine
Usage: Danish
Danish feminine form of MIKKELMILAGender: Feminine
Usage: Serbian, Croatian, Bulgarian, Macedonian, Czech
Other Scripts: Мила (Serbian, Bulgarian, Macedonian)
MILANAVariant of MILENAMILBURGAGender: Feminine
Usage: History
Derived from the Old English elements milde "gentle" and burg "fortress". Saint Milburga, the sister of Saint Mildred, was a daughter of a 7th-century Mercian king. She was supposedly in possession of magical powers.MILDREDFrom the Old English name Mildþryð meaning "gentle strength", derived from the elements milde "gentle" and þryð "strength". Saint Mildred was a 7th-century abbess, the daughter of the Kentish princess Saint Ermenburga. After the Norman conquest this name became rare, but it was revived in the 19th century.MILENAGender: Feminine
Usage: Czech, Russian, Bulgarian, Slovene, Serbian, Croatian, Macedonian, Polish, Italian
Other Scripts: Милена (Russian, Bulgarian, Serbian, Macedonian)
Pronounced: mee-LE-nah (Italian)
Feminine form of MILAN. It began to be used in Italy in honour of Milena Vukotić (1847-1923), mother of Helen of Montenegro, the wife of Italian king Victor Emmanuel III. In Italy it can also be considered a combination of MARIA and ELENA.MILEYIn the case of actress and singer Miley Cyrus (1992-), it is a shortened form of the nickname Smiley, given to her by her father because she often smiled. Although it was not at all common before she brought it to public attention, there are some examples of its use before her time, most likely as a diminutive of MILES.MILKA (2)Means "queen" in Hebrew. This name appears in the Old Testament belonging to both the wife of Nahor and the daughter of Zelophehad.MILLAShort form of CAMILLA and other names that end in milla.MILLICENTFrom the Germanic name Amalasuintha, composed of the elements amal "work, labour" and swinþ "strength". Amalasuintha was a 6th-century queen of the Ostrogoths. The Normans introduced this name to England in the form Melisent or Melisende. Melisende was a 12th-century queen of Jerusalem, the daughter of Baldwin II.MINDYMINNAGerman short form of WILHELMINA and a Finnish short form of VILHELMIINA.MINNIEMINTYMIOFrom Japanese 美 (mi) "beautiful" combined with 桜 (ou) "cherry blossom" or 緒 (o) "thread".MIRA (2)Gender: Feminine
Usage: Bulgarian, Macedonian, Slovene, Croatian, Polish, Medieval Slavic
Other Scripts: Мира (Bulgarian, Macedonian)
MIRABELLAGender: Feminine
Usage: Italian
Latinate form of MIRABELLEMIRABELLEGender: Feminine
Usage: French (Rare), English (Rare)
Derived from Latin mirabilis "wonderful". This name was coined during the Middle Ages, though it eventually died out. It was briefly revived in the 19th century.MIRIAMGender: Feminine
Usage: Hebrew, English, German, Biblical, Biblical Hebrew
Other Scripts: מִרְיָם (Hebrew)
Pronounced: MIR-ee-əm (English)
Original Hebrew form of MARY. It is used in the Old Testament, where it belongs to the elder sister of Moses and Aaron. It has long been popular among Jews, and it has been used as an English Christian name since the Protestant Reformation.MIRJAGender: Feminine
Usage: Finnish
Finnish form of MIRIAMMIRTAGender: Feminine
Usage: Croatian
Means "myrtle" in Croatian.MIRTHEVariant of MYRTHEMITZIGerman diminutive of MARIAMIYUFrom Japanese 美 (mi) "beautiful" or 実 (mi) "truth" combined with 優 (yu) "gentleness, superiority" or 結 (yu) "tie, bind" or 夕 (yu) "evening".MOAGender: Feminine
Usage: Swedish
Possibly derived from Swedish moder meaning "mother". This was the pen name of the Swedish author Moa Martinson (real name Helga Maria Martinson).MOANAGender: Feminine & Masculine
Usage: Maori
Means "wide expanse of water, deep sea" in Maori.MOEMAGender: Feminine
Usage: Native American, Tupí
Means "sweet" in Tupí.MOLLYDiminutive of MARY. It developed from Malle and Molle, other medieval diminutives. James Joyce used this name in his novel 'Ulysses' (1920), where it belongs to Molly Bloom, the wife of the main character.MONICAGender: Feminine
Usage: English, Italian, Portuguese, Romanian, Late Roman
Pronounced: MAHN-i-kə (English)
Meaning unknown, most likely of North African or Phoenician origin. In the 4th century this name was borne by the North African saint Monica of Hippo, the mother of Saint Augustine, whom she converted to Christianity. Since the Middle Ages it has been associated with Latin moneo "advisor" and Greek monos "one". As an English name, Monica has been in general use since the 18th century.MONIKAGender: Feminine
Usage: German, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Czech, Slovak, Polish, Slovene, Croatian, Lithuanian, Latvian
Pronounced: MO-ni-kah (German), maw-NEE-kah (Polish)
Form of MONICAMONTANAFrom the name of the American state, which is derived from Latin montanus "mountainous".MORGAN (1)From the Old Welsh masculine name Morcant, which was possibly derived from Welsh mor "sea" and cant "circle". Since the 1980s in America Morgan has been more common for girls than boys, perhaps due to stories of Morgan le Fay or the fame of actress Morgan Fairchild (1950-).MOUNAVariant transcription of MUNAMUNAMeans "wishes, desires", from the plural of Arabic منية (munyah).MWANAJUMAGender: Feminine
Usage: Eastern African, Swahili
Means "born on Friday" in Swahili.MYGender: Feminine
Usage: Swedish
Swedish diminutive of MARIAMYRTLESimply from the English word myrtle for the evergreen shrub, ultimately from Greek μυρτος (myrtos). It was first used as a given name in the 19th century, at the same time many other plant and flower names were coined.NA'AMAHBiblical Hebrew form of NAAMAHNAAMAHGender: Feminine
Other Scripts: נַעֲמָה (Hebrew)
Pronounced: NAY-ə-mə (English), nah-ah-MAH (Jewish)
Means "pleasant" in Hebrew. This name is borne in the Old Testament by both a daughter of Lamech and a wife of Solomon. Some later Jewish texts give Naamah as the name of Noah's wife, even though she is not named in the Old Testament.NADIA (2)Variant transcription of NADIYYANAIARAGender: Feminine
Usage: Basque
From the Basque name of the Spanish city of Nájera, which is Arabic in origin. In the 12th century there was a reported apparition of the Virgin Mary in a nearby cave.NA'IMAFeminine form of NA'IMNALANIGender: Feminine
Usage: Hawaiian
Means "the heavens" in Hawaiian.NANNANA (2)From a duplication of Japanese 菜 (na) "vegetables, greens" or 奈 (na), a phonetic character.NANAMIFrom Japanese 七 (nana) "seven" and 海 (mi) "sea". It can also come from 菜 (na) "vegetables, greens" duplicated and 美 (mi) "beautiful".NANAYAGender: Feminine
Usage: Near Eastern Mythology
Meaning unknown, possibly related to INANNA. This was the name of a goddess worshipped by the Sumerians and Akkadians. She was later conflated with the goddesses Anahita and Aphrodite.NANCYPreviously a medieval diminutive of ANNIS, though since the 18th century it has been a diminutive of ANNE (1). It is now usually regarded as an independent name. During the 20th century it became very popular in the United States. A city in the Lorraine region of France bears this name, though it derives from a different source.NAOMI (1)Gender: Feminine
Usage: English, Hebrew, Biblical
Other Scripts: נָעֳמִי (Hebrew)
Pronounced: nay-O-mee (English), nie-O-mee (English)
From the Hebrew name נָעֳמִי (Na'omiy) meaning "pleasantness". In the Old Testament this is the name of the mother-in-law of Ruth. After the death of her husband, Naomi took the name Mara (see Ruth 1:20). Though previously common as a Jewish name, Naomi was not typically used as an English Christian name until after the Protestant Reformation.NARCISSAFeminine form of NARCISSUS