Boy Names that Start with M (85 Cool Ideas for 2024) (2024)

AHEAD: The ultimate list of M names for boys—plus their meanings and popularity.

If you’re looking for a cool boys’ name starting with the letter M, you’re in the right place!

Below, I’ve rounded up every single M name that’s even the slightest bit modern and cool.

For each name, you’ll find its meaning and current popularity—which will hopefully help you narrow down your list of favorites.

There are 68 “M” names ranking in the top 1000.

There are also a bunch of other magnificent M names that are more rare (without being too out there).

Feel free to use the Table of Contents to jump to a specific style, or keep on scrolling and view all of these cool boys’ names starting with the letter M.

Related: Girl Names that Start with M

POPULAR “M” NAMES
COOL “M” NAMES
GENDER-NEUTRAL “M” NAMES
RARE “M” NAMES
INTERNATIONAL “M” NAMES
RELIGIOUS “M” NAMES
PAST THEIR PRIME

Popular boy names that start with M

Kicking off our list of “M” names with some cool monikers that are popular in the United States right now. All of these are in the top 200.

Maddox

Name meaning: Fortunate. Son of Madoc.
Popularity: #174

Malachi or Malakai

Name meaning: My messenger.
Popularity: Malachi ranks #167 and Malakai is #256.

Mason or Maison

Name meaning: One who works with stone.
Popularity: Mason ranks #18 and Maison last ranked in 2020.

Matthew

Name meaning: Gift of God.
Popularity: Matthew ranks #36 and Mathew is #784.

Maverick

Name meaning: Independent-minded person. An unbranded animal.
Popularity: #47

Related: Middle Names for Maverick

Max

Name meaning: The greatest.
Popularity: #159

Maxwell

Name meaning: Mack’s spring (or stream).
Popularity: #163

Micah

Name meaning: Who is like God.
Popularity: #107

Michael

Cool “M” names

These boys’ names starting with M are perfect if you want something a little edgy but not too far out there.

Mack or Mac

Name meaning: Son of.
Popularity: Mack ranks #470 and Mac is #673.

Madden

Name meaning: Little dog.
Popularity: #824

Major

Name meaning: Significant. A high-ranking army officer. A key in music.
Popularity: #412

Marlon

Name meaning: Might mean little war-like one.
Popularity: #985

Maximilian

Name meaning: The greatest.
Popularity: #547

Maximus

Name meaning: The greatest.
Popularity: #263

Mayer or Meyer

Name meaning: Superior.
Popularity: This boys’ name isn’t ranking.

Memphis

Name meaning: Enduring and beautiful. A city in Tennessee.
Popularity: #404

Miller

Name meaning: Grain grinder.
Popularity: #591

Morris

Name meaning: Several possible meanings, such as ‘of the marsh’.
Popularity: This German boys’ name isn’t ranking.

If you like these cool boy names that start with M you’ll also like this list of edgy names.

Gender-neutral “M” names

All of these M names would work for a boy or a girl.

Marley

Name meaning: Pleasant wood.
Popularity: For boys, Marley last ranked in 2020. For girls, Marley currently ranks #215.

Mayes

Name meaning: Child of May. Might be related to “maize” (like corn).
Popularity: This cool name isn’t ranking for either gender.

McKinley

Name meaning: Child of the fair hero. Presidential name.
Popularity: This name isn’t ranking for boys but ranks #543 for girls.

Milan

Name meaning: A city in Italy known for fashion.
Popularity: This name ranks #388 for boys and #655 for girls.

Monroe

Name meaning: Mouth of the Roe river. Presidential name.
Popularity: This name isn’t ranking for boys but ranks #525 for girls.

Morgan

Name meaning: Of the sea.
Popularity: Morgan ranks #612 for boys and #205 for girls.

Murphy

Name meaning: Sea warrior.
Popularity: For boys, this name last ranked in 2020. It currently ranks #716 for girls.

If you like these gender-neutral names that start with the letter M you’ll also like this list of nonbinary names.

Rare “M” names

If you’re looking for a boys’ name starting with M that’s off the beaten path, one of these rare choices might be for you!

Related: Unique Boy Names

Macallister

Name meaning: Son of Alasdair.
Popularity: This boys’ name isn’t ranking.

Magnus

Name meaning: Great.
Popularity: #728

Marius

Name meaning: Might mean Roman war god Mars, male, or sea.
Popularity: This 3-syllable boys’ nameisn’t ranking.

Mars

Name meaning: The fourth planet from the sun. The Roman god of war.
Popularity: This one-syllable boys’ name last ranked in 2019.

Maxton

Name meaning: Greatest or greatest town.
Popularity: #994

Mccoy

Name meaning: Fire.
Popularity: #818

Mekhi

Name meaning: Meaning unknown.
Popularity: #867

Mendel

Name meaning: Comforter.
Popularity: This boys’ name isn’t ranking.

Mercer

Name meaning: Trader (occupation).
Popularity: This boys’ name isn’t ranking.

Merrick

Name meaning: Fame and power.
Popularity: This boys’ name isn’t ranking.

Merritt

Name meaning: Boundary gate.
Popularity: This fancy boy nameisn’t ranking.

Morrison

Name meaning: Dark-skinned.
Popularity: This boys’ name isn’t ranking.

If you like these rare boy names that start with M you’ll also like this list of space names for boys.

International “M” names

This next batch of boys’ M names comes from across the globe.

Malik

Name meaning: King.
Popularity: #393

Manuel

Name meaning: Spanish version of Emmanuel, meaning God is with us.
Popularity: #320

Marcel or Marcelo

Name meaning: Young warrior.
Popularity: Marcel ranks #685 and Marcelo is #583.

Marcellus

Name meaning: Young warrior.
Popularity: #730

Marco or Marcos

Name meaning: Italian and Spanish version of Mark, meaning warlike.
Popularity: Marco ranks #398 and Marcos is #491.

Mario

Name meaning: Might mean Roman war god Mars, male, or sea.
Popularity: #348

Mateo or Matteo

Name meaning: Gift of God.
Popularity: Mateo ranks #15 and Matteo is#166.

Matias or Mathias or Matthias

Name meaning: Gift of God.
Popularity: Matias ranks #225, Mathias is #440, and Matthias is #450.

Mauricio

Name meaning: Spanish and Portuguese version of Maurice, meaning dark-skinned.
Popularity: #708

Maximiliano

Name meaning: Spanish version of Maximilian, meaning the greatest.
Popularity: #292

Maximo

Name meaning: Greatest.
Popularity: #731

Miguel

Name meaning: Portuguese and Spanish version of Michael, meaning who is like God.
Popularity: #195

If you like these global boy names that start with M you may also like this list of French boy names.

Religious “M” names

These boy names that start with M are perfect for families of faith. All of them are ranking in the top 1000 baby names for boys.

Makai

Name meaning: Who is like God.
Popularity: #545

Messiah

Name meaning: Deliverer.
Popularity: #172

Misael

Name meaning: Who is like God.
Popularity: #815

Mordechai

Name meaning: A biblical name of uncertain origin.
Popularity: #995

Moses or Moises

Name meaning: To pull out of water.
Popularity: Moses ranks #519 and Moises is #527.

Moshe or Moishe

Name meaning: Alternative versions of Moses, meaning to pull out of water.
Popularity: Moshe ranks #484 and Moishe isn’t ranking.

Muhammad or Mohamed or Mohammed or Mohammad

Name meaning: Praiseworthy.
Popularity: Muhammad ranks #306, Mohamed is #531, Mohammed is #692, and Mohammed is #692.

Musa

Name meaning: Arabic, Turkish, and Persian version of Moses, meaning to pull out of water.
Popularity: #744

If you like these religious boy names that start with M you may also like this list of names for rainbow babies.

“M” names that are past their prime

IMHO, the following M boys’ names have seen better days.

That said, as you’ll see by their rankings, plenty of people disagree with me! All of these names are in the top 1000, and many are even in the top 500!

Malcolm

Name meaning: Devotee of Saint Columba.
Popularity: #282

Marcus

Name meaning: Warlike.
Popularity: #228

Mark

Name meaning: Warlike.
Popularity: #252

Marshall

Name meaning: Horse caretaker.
Popularity: #379

Martin

Name meaning: Warlike.
Popularity: #302

Marvin

Name meaning: Meaning unknown.
Popularity: #620

Maurice

Name meaning: Dark-skinned.
Popularity: #829

Melvin

Name meaning: Might mean gentle lord.
Popularity: #801

Mitchell

Name meaning: Who is like God.
Popularity: #806

BOY NAMES BY LETTER

A NAMES	M NAMES
B NAMES	N NAMES
C NAMES	O NAMES
D NAMES	P NAMES
E NAMES	R NAMES
F NAMES	S NAMES
G NAMES	T NAMES
H NAMES	V NAMES
I NAMES	W NAMES
J NAMES	X NAMES
K NAMES	Y NAMES
L NAMES	Z NAMES

More baby names for boys:

One Syllable Boy Names for Modern Little Dudes
100+ Space Names for Babies that are Actually Cool
135 Short Boy Names for Modern Babies

Final thoughts on “M” boy names

Hopefully, you’ve found a few lead contenders on this list, or at least come away with some baby name inspiration.

Whether you prefer a name that’s popular, cool, gender-neutral, rare, or global, all of these boys’ names are fantastic choices.

Congratulations and good luck choosing the perfect name for your son!