Girl Names
Beautiful, strong, and distinctive names for your daughter. Dive into the meaning, origin, and history behind each one.
Mariana
“Beloved, graceful”
Mariana is a beautiful Spanish name that combines the meanings of 'beloved' and 'graceful', drawing from the Latin names Maria and Anna. It carries a sense of double blessing, uniting the devotion associated with Mary and the grace of Anne. The name has a lyrical, flowing quality that has made it a favourite across the Spanish-speaking world and beyond.
Marianella
“little Mary or beloved Maria”
Marianella combines the foundational Italian feminine name Maria, derived from Hebrew Miriam, with the diminutive suffix -nella, creating an extended affectionate form meaning 'little Maria' or 'dear Maria.' Maria itself carries multiple proposed meanings including 'beloved,' 'bitter,' or 'wished-for child,' all from the Hebrew Miriam. The -nella suffix, related to the Italian word for 'little one,' transforms the august biblical name into something intimate and tender, characteristic of the Italian love for melodic elaboration.
Marianna
“blending Maria (of Hebrew origin”
Marianna is a blend of two names of profound religious significance: Maria, derived from the Hebrew Miriam and associated with the Virgin Mary, and Anna, from the Hebrew Hannah, meaning grace or favor. Together the name can be understood as meaning full of grace and divine favor, reflecting the combined sanctity of both source names. The name has been used across Greek, Italian, Eastern European, and Latin American cultures, always carrying an air of classical feminine beauty and spiritual depth.
Marianne
“Graceful beloved”
Marianne has a classic, literary quality that feels both timeless and warm. It has been popular across English-speaking countries for centuries and carries an air of romantic refinement. Parents drawn to this name often appreciate its elegant double-barrelled heritage without requiring a hyphen.
Maribel
“Beautiful Mary”
Maribel is a Spanish blend of Maria and Isabel, combining the Hebrew name Mary (meaning 'beloved' or 'wished-for child') with Isabel (the Spanish form of Elizabeth, meaning 'God is my oath'). Together the name evokes grace, beauty, and devotion.
Marica
“beloved or of the sea”
Marica is a feminine given name used in Italy, particularly in the northeast and in regions with historic Slavic influence, as a form of Maria or an independent name. It also carries a distinct classical identity as the name of Marica, a Latin nymph of the River Liris who was venerated in ancient Latium and considered by some ancient sources to be the mother of the legendary Latin king Latinus. This dual heritage, both popular devotion to Maria and ancient mythological resonance, gives Marica unusual depth.
Maricielo
“Mary of the sky”
Maricielo is a lyrical Spanish compound of Maria and cielo, meaning 'sky' or 'heaven'. The name evokes the image of the Virgin Mary in a celestial setting, combining devotion with a sense of the sublime and the infinite.
Marie
“Wished-for child, bitter”
Marie is the French form of Mary, the most widely used female name in the Christian world. The ultimate origin is debated, but the two principal theories link it to the Hebrew 'maryam', which may mean wished-for child or beloved, and to the Egyptian 'mr', meaning love. A folk etymology also connects it to the Hebrew 'maror', meaning bitter or sorrow. In France, Marie has historically been the single most popular girls' name, used on its own and in countless hyphenated compound forms such as Marie-Claire, Marie-Louise, and Marie-Therese.
Marietta
“Beloved little one”
Marietta has a sunny, Victorian charm that feels both dainty and distinctive. It enjoyed popularity in the nineteenth century alongside other '-etta' names and retains a vintage sweetness that appeals to parents seeking something less common than Maria or Marie. The name projects warmth and a certain Southern gentility.
Marigold
“Golden flower of Mary”
Marigold is one of the more whimsical and vivid floral names in the English tradition, evoking warmth, colour, and a cheerful spirit. It has seen a notable revival in recent years alongside other botanical names and carries a vintage English country-garden quality. The name feels equally at home in a fairy tale and on a contemporary birth certificate.
Marika
“jasmine fragrance”
Marika in Japanese is most often written with the kanji for 'mari' (jasmine/ball of beauty) and 'ka' (fragrance/flower). The combination creates a name rich with floral imagery, suggesting a person who brings beauty and gentle fragrance to those around her. The name has an international quality while remaining distinctly Japanese in feel.
Mariko
“true village child”
Mariko brings together 'mari' (真 true, 鞠 ball, or 茉莉 jasmine) with 'ko' (子 child), following the beloved Japanese feminine naming tradition. The most resonant reading, 真理子 (true + reason + child), suggests a girl of deep, genuine insight. The jasmine reading (茉莉子) adds floral grace to the classic child suffix.
Marilena
“Maria (beloved”
Marilena is a 20th-century Greek compound name formed by joining Maria and Eleni (Helen), two of the most historically significant feminine names in Greek culture. Maria carries both Hebrew roots (Miriam, meaning beloved or sea of bitterness) and its Christian identity as the name of the Virgin Mary, while Eleni comes from the ancient Greek Helene, derived from the word for torch or bright light. Together Marilena creates a name of layered beauty and warmth, honoring both Christian and classical Hellenic traditions simultaneously.
Marina
“Of the sea”
Marina comes from the Latin and Greek adjective marinus, meaning 'of the sea'. The name evokes the beauty and expansiveness of the ocean, making it particularly beloved in coastal Mediterranean cultures. In the Greek Orthodox tradition, Saint Marina is one of the most popular female saints, venerated for her extraordinary courage and martyrdom. The name has spread across Europe and Latin America, maintaining a timeless, lyrical quality wherever it is used.
Marine
“Of the sea”
Marine derives from the Latin marinus, meaning of the sea or belonging to the sea. It has been a beloved French girls' name since the 1980s, evoking the vastness, mystery, and beauty of the ocean. The name feels fresh and elemental, conjuring images of coastlines, saltwater, and the wide horizon. In France, Marine became enormously popular in the late 20th century, and while it has declined slightly from its peak, it retains an elegant, natural charm that travels well internationally.
Mariposa
“Butterfly”
Mariposa is the Spanish word for butterfly, used as a given name to evoke transformation, beauty, grace, and freedom. The butterfly is a universal symbol of metamorphosis and new beginnings, and a child named Mariposa carries all of these associations. The name has a poetic, rhythmic quality with its five syllables flowing like music. It is used in Spanish-speaking countries and communities but remains rare enough elsewhere to feel genuinely distinctive.
Marisela
“Sea and heaven”
Marisela is a Spanish feminine name combining the elements of Maria, which derives from the Hebrew Miriam and is associated with the sea or beloved, and Celia, from the Latin caelum meaning heaven or sky. The combined meaning of sea and heaven evokes a vast, beautiful landscape where earth meets the infinite, a name that gestures towards the grandeur of the natural world. The name is especially popular throughout Latin America, particularly in Mexico, Venezuela, and Colombia, and carries a warm, melodic Latinate sound.
Marisol
“Sea and sun”
Marisol is a Spanish name blending 'mar' (sea) and 'sol' (sun), evoking images of sunlight on water. It captures a radiant, coastal warmth that feels both poetic and grounded in the natural world.
Marjolaine
“Marjoram, the herb”
Marjolaine is the French word for the herb marjoram and is used as a given name in French-speaking countries. Like many botanical names, it evokes nature, fragrance, and grace. The herb marjoram has long been associated with sweetness, happiness, and love in European herbal tradition. As a name, Marjolaine has a lyrical, distinctly French quality that feels both rooted in nature and effortlessly elegant.
Marjorie
“Pearl”
Marjorie carries the solid, dependable character of a well-loved classic that never entirely goes out of fashion. It was widely popular in the early twentieth century and is now experiencing a quiet resurgence as grandmotherly names return to favour. The name projects intelligence, warmth, and a certain no-nonsense reliability.
Marlena
“Star of the sea”
Marlena is a variant of the German name Marlene, itself a contracted blend of Maria and Helena. Maria derives from the Hebrew Miriam and is traditionally interpreted as meaning star of the sea, bitter, or beloved, while Helena comes from the Greek and means bright, shining light. Marlena therefore carries a double radiance: the gentle maritime imagery of Maria and the luminous quality of Helena. The name has a softness that the original Marlene lacks, with its final 'a' giving it a more flowing, melodic quality. It sits within a family of names associated with old-world glamour and quiet elegance.
Marlene
“Star of the sea, wished-for child”
Marlene is a blend of Maria ('star of the sea') and Helene or Magdalene ('wished-for child' or 'woman from Magdala'), uniting two rich name traditions into one elegant form.
Marnie
“Of the sea, a pearl”
Marnie has a breezy, friendly energy that feels unpretentious and approachable without sacrificing distinctiveness. It was popularised significantly by Alfred Hitchcock's 1964 psychological thriller of the same name, giving it a glamorous, slightly mysterious cinematic edge. The name has remained quietly fashionable, particularly in Britain and Australia, and suits personalities that are warm and spirited.
Marsaili
“Pearl”
Marsaili is the Scottish Gaelic form of Marjorie or Margaret, both of which derive ultimately from the Greek Margarites meaning 'pearl.' The name carries a gem-like elegance and a long history of aristocratic and royal use across Europe. In its Scottish Gaelic form, Marsaili transforms this classical meaning into something distinctly Highland, with a musical quality unique to the Gaelic language.
Marsali
“Pearl”
Marsali is a Scottish Gaelic name meaning pearl, derived as a Gaelic form of Marjorie or Marcella. It carries the distinctive character of the Scottish Highlands, with a lyrical quality that sets it apart from its more familiar root names. Marsali has enjoyed renewed interest in recent years, partly through its appearance in the television adaptation of Diana Gabaldon's 'Outlander' series, where the character Marsali Fraser became a fan favourite.
Marshmallow
“Soft, sweet marsh plant”
Marshmallow is an exceptionally rare and whimsical given name, evoking softness, sweetness, and a playful imagination. It carries a gentle, almost fairy-tale quality that suits creative, free-spirited personalities. While virtually unheard of as a formal name, it appears occasionally as an endearing nickname or pet name for children.
Marta
“lady or mistress of the house”
Marta derives from the Aramaic word 'marta', the feminine form of 'mar', meaning lord or master, giving the name the sense of 'lady' or 'mistress'. In the New Testament, Martha of Bethany was the practical, hospitable sister of Mary and Lazarus, whose home Jesus frequently visited. Her story, contrasted with her more contemplative sister Mary, has made Martha and its variants synonymous with industriousness, warmth, and domestic strength. In Spanish the form Marta became standard, and its crisp two-syllable sound made it one of the most enduring classic names across the Spanish-speaking world.
Marteg
“Lady, mistress”
Marteg is a Welsh feminine name, a Cymricised form rooted in the same Aramaic and Hebrew source as Martha, meaning lady or mistress of the house. The name carries the distinctive consonantal texture of the Welsh language whilst remaining connected to the broader European tradition of Martha-derived names. Rare in modern usage, Marteg represents a layer of medieval Welsh name-giving that has largely receded, making it a name of genuine historical and linguistic rarity for those seeking authentic Celtic heritage.
Martha
“Lady of the house”
Martha is a classic, grounded name with deep biblical roots, most famously borne by the sister of Mary and Lazarus in the New Testament, who became a symbol of industrious hospitality. It has been a staple of English-speaking households for centuries and carries connotations of practicality, warmth, and reliability. The name enjoyed peak popularity in the early 20th century and retains a timeless, dignified charm.
Martina
“The feminine form of Martin”
Martina is the feminine form of Martin, which derives from the Latin Martinus, meaning of Mars or dedicated to Mars, the Roman god of war. Despite its martial origins, the name has always carried a graceful femininity, especially in its Spanish and Italian forms. It has been a consistently popular name across Spain, Latin America, and Italy, beloved for its warmth and classical elegance.
Discover thousands of names in the app
Swipe through names, match with your partner, and find the perfect name together. Privacy-first, always.