Mwende♡
Meaning: Kikuyu for “one who is loved.”
African American Names for Girls Starting with M
M - Authentic African American Girls Names & Their Meanings
Browse our curated list of African American girls names that start with the letter "M". Each name includes its meaning, cultural significance, and pronunciation help.
100 Names Found•African American girls Names•Starting with "M"
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Marian♡
Meaning: English form of Marion, a form of Marie, the French form of Mary, the English form of the Latin Maria (New Testament), from the Hebrew Miryam: Sea of bitterness or sea of sorrow (Old Testament—sister of Moses and Aaron).
Myrlie♡
Meaning: Form of Myrtle: The myrtle (bush or tree with white or pink flowers), an ancient Greek symbol of triumph and victory (Greek).
Marietta♡
Meaning: Form of Mary, the English form of the Latin Maria (New Testament), from the Hebrew Miryam: Sea of bitterness or sea of sorrow (Old Testament—sister of Moses and Aaron).
Mandisa♡
Meaning: Sweet (man-DEE-sah—Xhosa, South Africa).
Michica♡
Meaning: Form of Michiko: Beautiful, wise (mee-chee-ko—Japanese).
Marvalene♡
Meaning: Form of Marva, a form of Marvel: Miracle; a wonderful thing (English).
Marchette♡
Meaning: Form of Marcia, the feminine form of Marcius, a form of Marcus: Little hammer; little warlike one (Latin). Rooted in Mars, the Roman god of war.
Mercy♡
Meaning: Compassion, pity, forgiveness (Middle English, from the Latin). Name found among free black women who lived and worked in New England at the turn of the nineteenth century.
Melanie♡
Meaning: Form of Melaina: Black or dark-complexioned (Greek).
Meli'sa♡
Meaning: Created name from African-American culture, a form of Melissa: Honey bee (Greek).
Maryum♡
Meaning: Form of Mary, the English form of the Latin Maria (New Testament), from the Hebrew Miryam: Sea of bitterness or sea of sorrow (Old Testament—sister of Moses and Aaron).
Melah♡
Meaning: No meaning available
Marlowe♡
Meaning: No meaning available
Merle♡
Meaning: Thrush, blackbird (French, from the Latin).
Meondra♡
Meaning: Meaning and origin unknown.
Magenta♡
Meaning: Inspired by the color, symbolizing boldness and creativity.
Meadow♡
Meaning: Inspired by nature, symbolizing peace and tranquility.
Monique♡
Meaning: A name associated with elegance, widely popularized in African American culture.
Madeline♡
Meaning: From Magdala, meaning elevated, magnificent (Greek).
Malia♡
Meaning: A Hawaiian origin name meaning “calm” or “peaceful.”
Meg♡
Meaning: Form of Margaret, the English form of Margarites: Pearl (Greek).
Maxine♡
Meaning: Greatest (Latin).
Micaella♡
Meaning: No meaning available
Marie♡
Meaning: French form of Mary, the English form of the Latin Maria (New Testament), from the Hebrew Miryam: Sea of bitterness or sea of sorrow (Old Testament—sister of Moses and Aaron).
Melody♡
Meaning: Form of Melodie: Song; beautiful music (Greek).
Magdalena♡
Meaning: No meaning available
Michelle♡
Meaning: Form of Michele, the feminine form of Michel, the French form of Michael: Who is like God? (Hebrew).
Melanie♡
Meaning: A Greek origin name meaning “dark” or “black,” symbolizing mystery and elegance.
Muther♡
Meaning: Meaning and origin unknown.
Maryam♡
Meaning: Form of Mary, the English form of the Latin Maria (New Testament), from the Hebrew Miryam: Sea of bitterness or sea of sorrow (Old Testament—sister of Moses and Aaron).
Mykisha♡
Meaning: No meaning available
Miki♡
Meaning: Form of Mikel, a feminine form of Michael: Who is like God? (Hebrew).
Maureen♡
Meaning: Little Mary (Irish Gaelic).
Madison♡
Meaning: An English origin name meaning “son of Matthew.”
Malaika♡
Meaning: A Swahili name meaning “angel,” symbolizing purity and grace.
Myrah♡
Meaning: Admirable, sweet-smelling.
Mo'Nay♡
Meaning: Meaning and origin unknown.
Monai♡
Meaning: Desired, wished for.
Margurite♡
Meaning: Form of Marguerite, the French form of Margarites: Pearl (Greek).
Mia♡
Meaning: A Latin origin name meaning “mine.”
Mahalia♡
Meaning: Marrow, fat (ma-HAH-lee-ah—Aramaic).
Me'Shell♡
Meaning: Created name from African-American culture, a form of Michele, the feminine form of Michel, the French form of Michael: Who is like God? (Hebrew).
Mecheka♡
Meaning: Created name from African-American culture, a form of Mèche: Lock of hair (French); surname or family name given for a first or middle name.
Marcella♡
Meaning: Feminine form of Marcellus, the Italian form of Marcus: Little hammer; little warlike one (Latin). Rooted in Mars, the Roman god of war.
Milani♡
Meaning: Italian in origin but embraced for its melodious sound, meaning “gentle touch.”
Myra♡
Meaning: Created by the poet Fulke Greville (1554–1628) for his love poems; possibly a variant of the Irish Moyra, a form of Mary (English; Irish).
Monique♡
Meaning: No meaning available
Marchele♡
Meaning: Form of Marcia, the feminine form of Marcius, a form of Marcus: Little hammer; little warlike one (Latin). Rooted in Mars, the Roman god of war.
Muriel♡
Meaning: Dweller near the bright, shining sea (Irish).
Marcell♡
Meaning: Form of Marcella, the feminine form of Marcellus, the Italian form of Marcus: Little hammer; little warlike one (Latin). Rooted in Mars, the Roman god of war.
Mazana♡
Meaning: Blend of two names such as Mazu (maternal ancestor—Chinese, from Far Eastern mythology) and Muana (moo-AH-na—child, offspring, seed—Tshiluba, Congo).
Malené♡
Meaning: Form of Malene, the Danish form of Madeline or Magdalina: Elevated, magnificent (Greek; New Testament).
Minty♡
Meaning: Form of Araminta: Blend of two names such as Arabella and Aminta. Name used by several authors and playwrights, including Restoration dramatist Sir John Vanbrugh (English). Name used among black women at the turn of the nineteenth century.
Marquerite♡
Meaning: Created name from African-American culture, a form of Marguerite, the French form of Margarites: Pearl (Greek).
Mikki♡
Meaning: Form of Mikel, a feminine form of Michael: Who is like God? (Hebrew).
Melnea♡
Meaning: Created name from African-American culture.
Malcolmnette♡
Meaning: Feminine form of Malcolm: Disciple of St. Columba (Scottish Gaelic).
Michelle♡
Meaning: A Hebrew origin name, a variant of Michael, meaning “who is like God?” symbolizing faith and devotion.
Muse♡
Meaning: Inspired by creativity and inspiration.
Malinda♡
Meaning: Form of Melinda, a form of Linda: Wait; wait for goodness (LEEN-dah—Xhosa, South Africa).
Millicent♡
Meaning: Strong in work.
Mireya♡
Meaning: Miracle, admired.
Merna♡
Meaning: Form of Myrna: Tender, beloved, polite, gentle (Celtic).
Maliaka♡
Meaning: Form of Malaika: Angel (mah-LAH-EE-kah, mah-LIGH-kuh—Swahili, East Africa).
Maylani♡
Meaning: Gentle, calm sky.
Molly♡
Meaning: Form of Mary, the English form of the Latin Maria (New Testament), from the Hebrew Miryam: Sea of bitterness or sea of sorrow (Old Testament—sister of Moses and Aaron).
Malaak♡
Meaning: Form of Malak: Angel (mah-lahk—Arabic, North Africa).
Mailou♡
Meaning: Blend of two names such as Maia (MY-yuh—nurse or mother—Greek) and Lou (famous warrior maid—Old German).
Mystique♡
Meaning: Inspired by the word “mystery,” often chosen for its intriguing sound.
Malaya♡
Meaning: No meaning available
Memphis♡
Meaning: Place name—city in Tennessee.
Maliyah♡
Meaning: Peaceful, beloved.
Mau-Mau♡
Meaning: Form of Maua: Flower (Swahili, East Africa; Tanzania).
Madisyn♡
Meaning: An English origin name, a variant of Madison, meaning “son of Matthew,” symbolizing strength and heritage.
Marla♡
Meaning: Form of Marlene (German), a form of Madeline, a form of Magdala: Elevated, magnificent (Greek).
Monice♡
Meaning: Form of Monica: Meaning uncertain (Greek—mother of St. Augustine).
Melicia♡
Meaning: No meaning available
Mathilda♡
Meaning: Mighty battle maiden (Old High German).
Mikel♡
Meaning: A feminine form of Michael: Who is like God? (Hebrew).
Marly♡
Meaning: Form of Marlene (German), a form of Madeline, a form of Magdala: Elevated, magnificent (Greek).
Maggie♡
Meaning: Form of Margaret: Pearl (Latin).
Mariah♡
Meaning: A Hebrew origin name meaning “bitter” or “beloved,” associated with strength and resilience.
Mozella♡
Meaning: Created name from African-American culture.
Merryll♡
Meaning: No meaning available
Milaena♡
Meaning: Blend of two names such as Millicent (industrious and true—English, from the French and Old High German) and Alana (feminine form of Alan—handsome, cheerful, harmonious one—Irish).
Meilani♡
Meaning: Heavenly flower.
Marilyn♡
Meaning: Form of Mary, the English form of the Latin Maria (New Testament), from the Hebrew Miryam: Sea of bitterness or sea of sorrow (Old Testament—sister of Moses and Aaron).
Michele♡
Meaning: Feminine form of Michel, the French form of Michael: Who is like God? (Hebrew).
Makeda♡
Meaning: Beautiful armrest, referring to traditional carved wood armrests (mah-KUH-dah—Amharic, Ethiopia).
Mildrette♡
Meaning: Form of Mildred: Gentle strength (English).
Moesha♡
Meaning: Form of Maisha: Life (mah-EE-shah—Swahili, East Africa).
Makayla♡
Meaning: A modern, creative take on “Michaela,” which means “who is like God,” it’s a name of reverence and uniqueness.
Mayann♡
Meaning: Blend of the two names May (great one—Latin; mother—Greek) and Ann (form of Hannah—graceful one; merciful (Hebrew; Old Testament—mother of Samuel).
Melissa♡
Meaning: Honey bee (Greek).
Miracle♡
Meaning: Often chosen to express gratitude.
Mena♡
Meaning: Moon, precious stone.
Mattie♡
Meaning: Form of Matilda, a form of Mathilda: Mighty battle maiden (Old High German).
May♡
Meaning: Great one (Latin).
Maeretha♡
Meaning: Blend of two names such as Mae, a form of May (great one—Latin) and Aretha (excellence, virtue, value—Greek).