Maria
A biblical name derived from Mary. It was held to be too sacred for general use until about the 12th century, when the French form, Marie, traditionally meaning "dew of the sea", was used. It possibly goes back to an ancient Egyptian name.

Melissa
From the Greek meaning “a bee” and the name of a nymph in Greek mythology. It was used occasionally in the 18th Century and has been popular in recent years.

Maxwell
From the Scottish surname, which derives from a place name meaning “Mac’s well”. It has been given as a first name since the end of the last century. Max is the short form.

Millie
A short form of Millicent, from the old German meaning strong worker. The French brought it to England in the late 12th Century in the form Melisent.

Michael
From the Hebrew meaning who is like the Lord? In the Bible, Michael was one of the seven archangels and their leader in battle, and he therefore became the patron saint of soldiers.

Martin
From the Latin Matinus, a diminutive of Martius meaning of Mars, the Roman god of war. According to popular legend, St Martin was a 4th Century soldier who cut his cloak in half to share it with a beggar one winter's night.

Mark
Mark or Marcus are probably derived from Mars, the Roman god of war, and were used as Roman family and personal names. The names occur from the Middle Ages in Britain, but have become common since the 1950s. Marcus is becoming more popular.

Matthew
From the Hebrew meaning gift of God, and the name of one of the Evangelists. The name was particularly popular from the 12th and 14th Centuries.
In the Bible it is used for the name of the apostle chosen to succeed Judas Iscariot.

Megan
Megan originated in Wales and is often shortened to Meg, which is a pet form of Margaret. Margaret comes from the Greek word meaning a pearl and in Persian means child of light.
The ancient people believed that pearls were formed when oysters rose from their beds at night to look at the moon.