Old-School Girl Names That Start with M

Old-fashioned girl names that start with the letter M have range. There are the solid classics, like Margaret and Marie. The sweet comeback names, like Mable, Mae and Mavis. The biblical powerhouses—think Martha and Magdalene. Whatever type of M-name you're craving, you've come to the right place. Here's our master list of old-fashioned girl names starting with M. Enjoy!

1. Mabel. For long considered hopelessly frumpy, Mabel today feels child-friendly again.
2. Mable. A variation of Mabel.
3. Madge. A once-popular, nicknamey name now wobbling on the edge of extinction.
4. Mae. This beautiful M-name is complete at just one syllable. Less is more, as they say!
5. Magdalene. A biblical throwback waiting for today's new parents to restore its luster.
6. Mamie. This one's been hiding in the attic for a while now, and we don't expect to make it a comeback anytime soon.
7. Marcella. A terminally dated name to one person; a neglected retro gem to another.
8. Marcia. A quintessential mid-century moniker, Marcia would be tough to pull off as a baby name in today's naming climate.
9. Margaret. A classic drenched in history.
10. Margarette. Margaret—with extra frills.
11. Margery. This M-name was on a great trajectory a hundred years ago; not so much today.
12. Margie. Granted, Margie isn't the coolest name out there by 21st-century standards. But there's no denying that as a baby name, it does offer that element of surprise so many modern parents are aiming for.
13. Margret. Yet another variation of Margaret.
14. Marguerite. Margaret with a floral twist.
15. Marian. Has Marian been out of vogue long enough to feel young and fresh again? You decide.
16. Marianne. Marianne was once a beloved girls' name, but something happened, and Marianne flitted off the radar.
17. Marie. A versatile name that works whether you're a child or an adult, an artist or an attorney.
18. Marietta. In the first half the 20th century, Marietta came across as familiar and appealing, but not overly popular. Fast forward to today, and you rarely meet a baby named Marietta. Time to bring back the Mariettas?
19. Marilyn. An old Hollywood powerhouse with plenty of nickname options to choose from.
20. Marilynn. A variation of Marilyn.
21. Marion. Once a Top 100 choice for girls, Marion doesn't seem to be on anyone's radar today.
22. Marjorie. This name has cycled in and out of fashion since at least medieval times. Its last peak was in the 1920s, which begs the question: are we soon going to see a new batch of baby Marjories?
23. Marjory. A variation of Marjorie.
24. Marlene. This one combines old-school charm with international appeal.
25. Marlys. Pretty much extinct today...
26. Marsha. For an audacious couple not intimidated by its mid-century vibe.
27. Martha. Another bygone biblical choice, yours for the taking!
28. Marva. Once perfectly baby-appropriate; today accumulating cobwebs.
29. Mary. This classic was the undisputed #1 girls' name until the mid-twentieth century.
30. Maryann. A mid-century compound name that hasn't managed to regain its panache (yet).
31. Maryanne. A variation of Maryann.
32. Marybeth. A portmanteau of Mary and Elizabeth.
33. Maryellen. Yet another compound name with a distinct midcentury-modern vibe.
34. Marylou. A sweet hybrid name peaking in the late 1930s.
35. Mathilda. A variation of Matilda (see below).
36. Matilda. Matilda used to have a definite grandma vibe, but it's found so much favor with the new crop of parents that we're not even sure if it should be included on this list.
37. Mattie. One of the many vintage names ending in -tie. Others include Hattie, Lettie and Lottie.
38. Maude. Poor Maude is heading for extinction if parents don't start using it soon again. What a shame that would be!
39. Maudie. An overlooked vintage choice with the cute -ie ending.
40. Maureen. A mid-century relic ignored by today's parents. It would definitely take some chutzpah to use this relic of a name.
41. Maurine. A variation of Maureen.
42. Mavis. Considered too musty and fusty not too long ago, Mavis is back in the game, with hundreds of new parents falling in love with its old-school charm.
43. Maxine. Although Maxine still has that old-school vibe, it's rapidly losing its "granny" image.
44. May. Blending pared-down femininity with old-school charm, May is one to watch.
45. Mayme. A variation of Mamie.
46. Mazie. If you're looking for a cute and friendly retro name starting with "M", you can't really go wrong with a name like Mazie.
47. Melba. Today, no one seems to be interested in naming their baby girl Melba, perhaps because of the association with the peach dessert. But turn the clock back 100 years, and it's a different story.
48. Melva. An all-but-lost M-name with retro charm.
49. Merle. This old unisex name was given to thousands of girls in the first half of the 20th century, but today, it's only heard on baby boys, if at all.
50. Merry. Expecting a Christmas baby? How about an old-school name that connotes that magical season?
51. Mildred. If Gwendolyn can make a comeback, why not Mildred?
52. Millicent. Old-fashioned, even a little clunky—but in a charming way. Added attraction: the super sweet vintage nickname Millie!
53. Minnie. A vintage rarity with a sweet, warm sound and Disney bona fides.
54. Mona. A succinct girl's name that had a long run of popularity in the 20th century but has since bowed out.
55. Muriel. Waiting for some audacious 21st-century parents to bring it back to life.
56. Myra. To some ears, Myra is an old lady in a nursing home; to others, it's cool retro baby name perfect for a modern girl.
57. Myrna. A sepia-tinted name shared by a number of Old Hollywood stars (think Loy, Dell, Fahey, Hansen and Ross).
58. Myrtle. A standard-issue old-lady name, Myrtle would undoubtedly feel out-of-place on a baby born today.