Girls' Names: M-N
Here are all the names from the lists on this site alphabetized into one. The "category" tells what type of name it is. Check that individual page for more information on what it means. Note: I have put pretty much all the place names and surnames into both the Girls and Boys categories since they are pretty much gender-free. NOTE: "Other Forms" names in italics represent names that were traditionally used to "translate" the Irish names. They are only related by tradition and sound, not by etymology.
Categories: anglicization, Biblical, modern, place name, surname, traditional, translation
Girls' Names: A-B C-D E-F G-J K-L M-N O-R S-Z
Boys' Names: A-B C-D E-F G-J K-L M-N O-R S-Z
| Girls' Names: M | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Pronunciation | Category | Meaning/Origin | Other Forms |
| Madailéin | MAH da lane | Translation | translation of Madeleine | |
| Madigan | MAD ih gun | Surname | "little dog" | Ó Madagáin |
| Maeve | MAVE | Anglicization | "She who intoxicates" | Meadhbh |
| Magheralin | mah HRAL lin | Place name | "plain of the pool" | Machaire Lainne |
| Magherally | mah HRAL lee | Place name | "townland of the apple tree plain" | Baile na Machaire Abhlaí |
| Maguire | mag WI ur | Surname | "dun colored" | Mag Uidhir |
| Maigdiléana | mag dil AY uh na | Biblical | transliteration of Magdalena | |
| Máire | MAW ra, MOY ra, MOY a | Translation | translation of Mary | |
| Mairéad | mar ADE | Translation | translation of Margaret | Maighread |
| Máirín | MAW reen | Translation | diminutive form of Máire | Maureen |
| Malinn, Milynn | ma LIN | Surname | "fair-haired chief" | Maoilfhinn |
| Mallaidh | MAL lee | Translation | Molly, diminutive form of Máire | |
| Malone | muh LOAN | Surname | "servant of St. John" | Mal Eoin |
| Maol Mhuire (m & f) | mal WIR eh | Traditional | "servant or devotee of St. Mary" | Murray, Miles, Milo, Myles |
| Maon (m & f) | MAYN | Traditional | "silent" | - |
| Márá | MAW raw | Biblical | transliteration of Mara | |
| Marga | MAR ga | Traditional | meaning is unknown | - |
| Marta | MAR ta | Translation | translation of Martha | |
| Marta (Marta) | MAR ta | Biblical | transliteration of Martha | Mór |
| Maura | MAW ra | Anglicization | from Hebrew Miriam (Mary). Meaning is obscure, possibly, "rebellious," "bitter," or related to the indo-European word for "mother." | Máire |
| Maureen | maw REEN | Anglicization | diminutive form of Mary | Mairín |
| McKenna | muh KEN uh | Modern | this name is common in the USA. It's popularity stems from the fact that it sounds a bit like the popular Hebrew derived name Michaela, often misspelled McKayla, and the popular Scottish surname name Mackenzie. McKenna is a surname meaning 'son of Cionnaith' [see also]. This also helps it catch the trend of giving children surnames as first names. Also spelled Makenna, Mckenna, Mackenna etc. | Kenna, Mackenna, Makenna |
| McKinley, Kinley, McKenley, Kenley | muh KIN lee, KEN lee etc. | Modern, Surname | Like McKenna, this name came to popularity in the late 20th century, following on the heels of names like Mackenzie and Michaela. McKinley is usually a Scottish anglicization of Mac Fhionnlaoich, but can also be an anglicization of the Irish Mac an Leagha ("doctor"). (Mc)Kenley can be a form of this, but also may be a form of Ó Cinnfhaolaidh (ceann "head" + faol "wolf), Ó Conghaile ("brave or fierce as a hound/wolf") or Ó Coingheallaigh ("faithful to pledges/hostages"). | Kynlee, Kinlee, MacKinley, Makinley etc. |
| Meadhbh | MAVE | Traditional | "she who intoxicates" | Maeve; Medb; Méabh,Marjorie |
| Meaghan, Megan | MEG in, MAY gun, MEE gun | Modern | The name Megan is originally a Welsh pet form of Margaret. It has been mistaken as an Irish name ever since the Australian author Colleen McCullough used Meghann for her Irish main character in the novel The Thorn Birds. Megan is sometimes 'Irishized' with the spellings Meaghan, Meeghan etc. For those who insist that Megan is Irish, and there are many militant pro-Irish-Megan Irish-Americans out there, There is an obscure Irish surname, Meegan. However, this name has usually been found as Meehan in this century. Megan and friends have been very popular in the USA since the 1970s, and are gaining popularity in the UK, Australia & Ireland. | Meghan, Meagan, Meegan, Meeghan, Maegan, Megyn etc. |
| Mealla | MY'AL a | Traditional | "lightning" | Mell, Mella |
| Meara, Mara | MAR a | Surname | "merry" | Ó Meadhra |
| Meeda, Mida | MEE da | Anglicization | a diminutive of Íde, meaning "devouring" | Íde, Íte, Míde |
| Meegan | MEE gun | Surname | "honorable" | Ó Miadhagáin, Meehan |
| Mell, Mella, Malla | MEL, MEL la, MAL la | Anglicization | "lightning" | Mealla |
| Miach (m & f) | MEE ach | Traditional | "honorable; proud" | - |
| Miriám | MIR yawm | Biblical | transliteration of Miriam | |
| Mirren, Murren | MUR ren | Anglicization | muir "sea" + fionn "white; fair-haired" | Muireann |
| Moinnine | muh NIN yeh | Traditional | "My ninne"-according to legend, ninne was the first word this saint spoke | Monina; Blinne |
| Moira | MOY ra | Anglicization | form of Mary (see above) | Máire |
| Móirne | MORN yeh | Traditional | "great" | Maria, Maud |
| Molly | MOL lee | Anglicization | dimiutive form of Mary (see above) | Mallaidh |
| Mona, Monat | MOE na, MOE nut | Anglicization | "noble, good" | Muadhnait |
| Moncha | MUN kha | Traditional | from a Celtic goddess name | Monica |
| Mór | MORE | Traditional | "great; tall" | Moreen; Móirín Martha, Mary, Agatha |
| Moreen | MOR een | Anglicization | "great" | Móirín |
| Morrissey | MOR ris ee | Surname | "sea action" | Ó Muirgheasa |
| Muadhnait | MOO nit | Traditional | "noble; good" | Monat; Mona; Muadnat |
| Muire | MUR reh | Biblical | transliteration of Mary-- the version reserved ONLY for the Virgin Mary | NOT used for anyone else! |
| Muireann | MWIR in | Traditional | muir "sea" + fionn "white; fair-haired" | Murren; Maren; Mairenn; Muirfhionn, Marion, Madge |
| Muirgheal | MWIR yal | Traditional | "sea-bright" or "sea-white" | Muriel; Muirgel |
| Muirín | MWIR in | Traditional | mur "sea" + gein "birth" | Miren; Muirín |
| Muirne | MWIR nyeh | Traditional | "high spirited; festive" | Myrna |
| Murphy | MUR fee | Surname | "hound of the sea" | Ó Murchu |
| Murray | MUR ee | Surname | "sea battler", "skilled in seacraft" | Ó Muireadhach |
| Myrna | MUR na | Anglicization | "of the sea" | Muirne |
| Girls' Names: N | ||||
| Name | Pronunciation | Category | Meaning/Origin | Other Forms |
| Nainsí | NAN shee | Translation | translation of Nancy | |
| Náoimí | NAW ih mee | Biblical | transliteration of Naomi | |
| Naoise (m, sometimes f) | NEE sha | Traditional | possibly, from nasc "a bond" | Nóise, Naois, Nyce, Noah |
| Naomh | NAV, NEV | Traditional | "saint" | - |
| Nárbhflaith | NAR vila | Traditional | "noble princess" | Narvla, Narbflaith |
| Narvla | NARV uh la | Anglicization | "noble princess" | Narbhfhlaith |
| Neacht | NYACHT | Traditional | "pure" | - |
| Neamhain | NYAV in | Traditional | "battle-fury; warlike frenzy" name of a Celtic war goddess | Nemon |
| Neassa | NES sa | Traditional | ni "not" + assa "gentle" | Nessa, Neas, Ness |
| Nelda, Neila, Nelia | NEL da, NEE la | Modern | Modern feminine forms of the name Neil | |
| Nessa | NES sa | Anglicization | ni "not" + assa "gentle" | Neasa |
| Newry | NEW ree | Place name | "yew tree at the head of the strand" | An Iúraigh |
| Niamh | NEEV, NEE uv | Traditional | "brightness; radiance" | Niav, Niam |
| Niav | NEE uv | Anglicization | "brightness; radiance; splendor" | Niamh |
| Nóinín | NO neen | Modern | Irish word for 'daisy.' It was sometimes used as a pet form of Nora. Because of this, Nora is sometimes anglicized "Daisy." | |
| Nolan | NO lun | Surname | nuall either "noble, famous; champion" or "shout" [possibly denoting a town crier" | Ó Nualláin |
| Nollaig | NULL ig | Modern | Irish word for "Christmas." This name has been very popular in this century for Irish girls and boys. It is often translated as Noel. | |
| Nora | NO ra | Anglicization | from Latin, 'honor' | Onóra, Nóra |
| Noreen | no REEN | Anglicization | diminutive of Nora (see above) | Nóirín |
| Nuala | NOO uh la | Traditional | diminutive of Fionnuala (fionn "white" + guala "shoulders") | Fionnuala, Penny, Penelope |