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Christian names starting with M

Browse Christian and biblical names starting with M, with meanings, origins, and faith context.

M anchors a substantial cluster across the Old and New Testaments. Mary is the catalog's most central girl's name, carried by the mother of Jesus, the sister of Lazarus and Martha, and Mary Magdalene who was the first witness of the Resurrection. The name comes from the Hebrew Miriam, meaning "bitter" or "wished-for child," and the Old Testament Miriam was the older sister of Moses who led the song after the crossing of the Red Sea.

Moses (Hebrew Moshe, "drawn out") opens the cluster on the priestly-prophetic side as the figure who led Israel out of Egypt and received the Torah at Sinai. Matthew (Hebrew Mattityahu, "gift of YHWH") and Mark, two of the four Gospel-writers, bring the New Testament register. Matthias was chosen by lot to replace Judas as the twelfth apostle.

Malachi closes the Old Testament prophetic line as the last book in the Hebrew canon. Micah, the eighth-century BC prophet whose Micah 6:8 ("to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God") is one of the most-quoted Old Testament passages, sits alongside him. Magdalene and Martha extend the New Testament women cluster. The Hebrew mem and the Greek mu both produce significant naming concentrations in the catalog.

14 names Meanings and origins Christian context

Magdalene Magdalene means connected with Magdala, a place name from the region of Galilee. Aramaic, Greek Malachi Malachi is a Hebrew name commonly understood as my messenger. Hebrew Mark Mark is a Latin-rooted name often connected with Mars, though Christian use is shaped by the Gospel of Mark. Latin Martha Martha is an Aramaic name often understood as lady or mistress of the house. Aramaic Mary Mary is a biblical name with a debated Hebrew meaning, often linked with Miriam. Hebrew through Greek and Latin Matthew Matthew is a name of Hebrew origin meaning gift of God. Hebrew through Greek and Latin Matthias Matthias is commonly understood as gift of God. Hebrew via Greek Mercy Mercy is an English virtue name meaning compassion, lovingkindness, or pity. English from Old French and Latin Micah Micah is a Hebrew name meaning who is like the LORD? Hebrew Michael Michael is a Hebrew name asking 'who is like God?' Hebrew Miriam Miriam is a Hebrew biblical name with a debated meaning, often linked with bitterness, belovedness, or rebellion in later discussion. Hebrew Monica Monica is a name of uncertain origin, possibly Berber, sometimes connected to the Latin moneo, "to advise." Berber or Latin Mordecai Mordecai is a name of uncertain etymology, likely Persian or Babylonian in origin. Persian or Babylonian Moses Moses is traditionally connected with being drawn out of water. Hebrew and Egyptian context

M names in 2026

Mary held the US #1 girls' position from 1880 through 1946, the longest single-name run at #1 in the SSA dataset's history. Mary currently ranks #125 in the 2025 SSA data, her lowest position in the modern SSA dataset, a 145-year decline from absolute dominance to upper-Top 150 maintenance use.

The cluster's modern strength has shifted to the boys' side. Matthew held a Top 30 position from 1972 through 2020 and currently sits just outside at #32 in the 2025 SSA data, and Michael held a Top 10 position from 1953 through 2009. Moses sits at #515 in the most recent release, while Malachi holds a stronger #134 in the Old Testament register.