Neutral names starting with M: Difference between revisions

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 '''Marin'''. French, Romanian, Croatian, Serbian, Bulgarian and Macedonian. In Croatia and France, this is a masculine name, but in the Netherlands and the US, it is more often feminine. From the Dutch masculine name Marinus, from the ancient Roman family name Marinus. Meaning "Of the sea" in Latin.<ref>https://www.behindthename.com/name/marin [https://web.archive.org/web/20230627062629/https://www.behindthename.com/name/marin Archived] on 17 July 2023</ref><ref>https://www.behindthename.com/name/marinus [https://web.archive.org/web/20230213080851/https://www.behindthename.com/name/marinus Archived] on 17 July 2023</ref> US SSA data shows about 5,138 people with this name, used as a feminine name 85% of the time.<ref>https://www.mynamestats.com/First-Names/M/MA/MARIN/index.html [https://web.archive.org/web/20170505045930/http://www.mynamestats.com:80/First-Names/M/MA/MARIN/index.html Archived] on 17 July 2023</ref> Keywords: feminine inclined, sea, two syllables, uncommon, water.
-'''Marion'''. English and French. From the French surname Marion, from the medieval French feminine nickname Marion, from the French feminine name Marie, a form of the feminine name Mary.<ref>https://www.behindthename.com/name/marion-1 [https://web.archive.org/web/20230601032233/https://www.behindthename.com/name/marion-1 Archived] on 17 July 2023</ref><ref>https://www.behindthename.com/name/marion-2 [https://web.archive.org/web/20230213092118/https://www.behindthename.com/name/marion-2 Archived] on 17 July 2023</ref><ref>https://www.behindthename.com/name/marie [https://web.archive.org/web/20230404062231/http://www.behindthename.com/name/marie Archived] on 17 July 2023</ref> Ultimately from the Biblical Hebrew feminine name Miryam (מִרְיָם). The original meaning of Miryam is uncertain, traditionally thought to mean "Sea of bitterness," or "Wished for child." The Hebrew name may have been related to an ancient Egyptian name M-R-Y, meaning "Beloved."<ref>https://www.behindthename.com/name/mary [https://web.archive.org/web/20230318052536/https://www.behindthename.com/name/mary Archived] on 17 July 2023</ref> US SSA data shows about 96,564 people named Marion, used as a feminine name 72% of the time.<ref>https://www.mynamestats.com/First-Names/M/MA/MARION/index.html [https://web.archive.org/web/20230131232541/https://mynamestats.com/First-Names/M/MA/MARION/index.html Archived] on 17 July 2023</ref> In many other countries, Marion is strictly a feminine name. The popularity of Marion as a gender neutral name in the US peaked during the 1890s to 1930s.<ref>https://www.behindthename.com/name/marion-2 [https://web.archive.org/web/20230213092118/https://www.behindthename.com/name/marion-2 Archived] on 17 July 2023</ref> Keywords: Biblical, common, Edwardian era, three syllables. The name  Marion was originally considered a masculine name with French origins<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://nameberry.com/|title=Marion: Name Meaning, Popularity, and Similar Names|website=Nameberry|language=en-US|access-date=2021-03-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230308010621/https://nameberry.com/|archive-date=17 July 2023}}</ref>. Most notably is the actor John Wayne (popular for starring in many old Western movies, a "heartthrob"), whose birth name was Marion Robert Morrison.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.biography.com/actor/john-wayne|title=John Wayne|website=Biography|language=en-us|access-date=2021-03-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230528080841/https://www.biography.com/actor/john-wayne|archive-date=17 July 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/John-Wayne|title=John Wayne {{!}} Biography, Movies, & Facts|website=Encyclopedia Britannica|language=en|access-date=2021-03-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230328190821/https://www.britannica.com/biography/John-Wayne|archive-date=17 July 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000078/|title=John Wayne|website=IMDb|access-date=2021-03-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230702220316/https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000078/|archive-date=17 July 2023}}</ref> "Marian"/"Marianne" was considered the inherently feminine spelling and "Marion" was considered the inherently masculine based either in folk etymology or common misconception. It was common for immigrants named "Maria" to change their name to the Americanized "Mary-Anne"/"Mary"/"Marian" - thus immigrants by the name of "Mario" took on the Americanized spelling "Marion".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.babynamewizard.com/baby-name/girl/marion|title=Marion Name Meaning & Origin|website=Baby Name Wizard|language=en|access-date=2021-03-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210920052500/https://www.babynamewizard.com/baby-name/girl/marion|archive-date=17 July 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.reddit.com/r/namenerds/comments/7j5kn9/marian_or_marion/|title=r/namenerds - Marian or Marion?|website=reddit|language=en-US|access-date=2021-03-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230610013159/https://www.reddit.com/r/namenerds/comments/7j5kn9/marian_or_marion/|archive-date=17 July 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.babycenter.com/baby-names-marion-484575.htm|title=Marion - Boy's name meaning, origin, and popularity|website=BabyCenter|language=en|access-date=2021-03-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211127051844/https://www.babycenter.com/baby-names-marion-484575.htm|archive-date=17 July 2023}}</ref> Today there is still confusion about whether or not the swapped vowels are indicative of specific genders, leading the "o" form to be decidedly unisex.<ref>{{Cite journal|date=2021-03-11|title=Marion (given name)|url=https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Marion_(given_name)&oldid=1011546976|journal=Wikipedia|language=en|archive-url=False|archive-date=17 July 2023}}</ref>
+'''Marion'''. English and French. From the French surname Marion, from the medieval French feminine nickname Marion, from the French feminine name Marie, a form of the feminine name Mary.<ref>https://www.behindthename.com/name/marion-1 [https://web.archive.org/web/20230601032233/https://www.behindthename.com/name/marion-1 Archived] on 17 July 2023</ref><ref>https://www.behindthename.com/name/marion-2 [https://web.archive.org/web/20230213092118/https://www.behindthename.com/name/marion-2 Archived] on 17 July 2023</ref><ref>https://www.behindthename.com/name/marie [https://web.archive.org/web/20230404062231/http://www.behindthename.com/name/marie Archived] on 17 July 2023</ref> Ultimately from the Biblical Hebrew feminine name Miryam (מִרְיָם). The original meaning of Miryam is uncertain, traditionally thought to mean "Sea of bitterness," or "Wished for child." The Hebrew name may have been related to an ancient Egyptian name M-R-Y, meaning "Beloved."<ref>https://www.behindthename.com/name/mary [https://web.archive.org/web/20230318052536/https://www.behindthename.com/name/mary Archived] on 17 July 2023</ref> US SSA data shows about 96,564 people named Marion, used as a feminine name 72% of the time.<ref>https://www.mynamestats.com/First-Names/M/MA/MARION/index.html [https://web.archive.org/web/20230131232541/https://mynamestats.com/First-Names/M/MA/MARION/index.html Archived] on 17 July 2023</ref> In many other countries, Marion is strictly a feminine name. The popularity of Marion as a gender neutral name in the US peaked during the 1890s to 1930s.<ref>https://www.behindthename.com/name/marion-2 [https://web.archive.org/web/20230213092118/https://www.behindthename.com/name/marion-2 Archived] on 17 July 2023</ref> Keywords: Biblical, common, Edwardian era, three syllables. The name  Marion was originally considered a masculine name with French origins<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://nameberry.com/|title=Marion: Name Meaning, Popularity, and Similar Names|website=Nameberry|language=en-US|access-date=2021-03-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230308010621/https://nameberry.com/|archive-date=17 July 2023}}</ref>. Most notably is the actor John Wayne (popular for starring in many old Western movies, a "heartthrob"), whose birth name was Marion Robert Morrison.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.biography.com/actor/john-wayne|title=John Wayne|website=Biography|language=en-us|access-date=2021-03-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230528080841/https://www.biography.com/actor/john-wayne|archive-date=17 July 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/John-Wayne|title=John Wayne {{!}} Biography, Movies, & Facts|website=Encyclopedia Britannica|language=en|access-date=2021-03-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230328190821/https://www.britannica.com/biography/John-Wayne|archive-date=17 July 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000078/|title=John Wayne|website=IMDb|access-date=2021-03-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230702220316/https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000078/|archive-date=17 July 2023}}</ref> "Marian"/"Marianne" was considered the inherently feminine spelling and "Marion" was considered the inherently masculine based either in folk etymology or common misconception. It was common for immigrants named "Maria" to change their name to the Americanized "Mary-Anne"/"Mary"/"Marian" - thus immigrants by the name of "Mario" took on the Americanized spelling "Marion".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.babynamewizard.com/baby-name/girl/marion|title=Marion Name Meaning & Origin|website=Baby Name Wizard|language=en|access-date=2021-03-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210920052500/https://www.babynamewizard.com/baby-name/girl/marion|archive-date=17 July 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.reddit.com/r/namenerds/comments/7j5kn9/marian_or_marion/|title=r/namenerds - Marian or Marion?|website=reddit|language=en-US|access-date=2021-03-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230610013159/https://www.reddit.com/r/namenerds/comments/7j5kn9/marian_or_marion/|archive-date=17 July 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.babycenter.com/baby-names-marion-484575.htm|title=Marion - Boy's name meaning, origin, and popularity|website=BabyCenter|language=en|access-date=2021-03-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211127051844/https://www.babycenter.com/baby-names-marion-484575.htm|archive-date=17 July 2023}}</ref> Today there is still confusion about whether or not the swapped vowels are indicative of specific genders, leading the "o" form to be decidedly unisex.<ref>{{Cite journal|date=2021-03-11|title=Marion (given name)|url=https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Marion_(given_name)&oldid=1011546976|journal=Wikipedia|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230720151718/https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Marion_%28given_name%29&oldid=1011546976|archive-date=2023-07-20|access-date=2021-03-28|url-status=bot: unknown}}</ref>
 '''Marley'''. English. From a surname, from a place name. Meaning "Pleasant forest," "Boundary forest," or "Marten forest" in Old English.<ref>https://www.behindthename.com/name/marley [https://web.archive.org/web/20230606184243/https://www.behindthename.com/name/marley Archived] on 17 July 2023</ref> US SSA data shows about 19,598 people with this name, used as a feminine name 86% of the time.<ref>https://www.mynamestats.com/First-Names/M/MA/MAR/index.html</ref> The variant ''Marly'' is 99% feminine.<ref>https://www.mynamestats.com/First-Names/M/MA/MARLY/index.html</ref> Keywords: common, feminine inclined, forest, nature, plants, wood. Notable nonbinary characters in fiction with this name include a main character in the young adult apocalyptic novel ''The End'' by Nora Olsen.
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 '''McKinley'''. English. In the US, this was a masculine name during the 1890s to 1960s, and then reappeared as a feminine name in the 2000s. From the surname. Meaning "Son of Fionnlagh."<ref>https://www.behindthename.com/name/mckinley [https://web.archive.org/web/20221006031815/https://www.behindthename.com/name/mckinley Archived] on 17 July 2023</ref> US SSA data shows about 10,888 people with this name, used as a masculine name 55% of the time.<ref>https://www.mynamestats.com/First-Names/M/MA/MARLOW/index.html [https://web.archive.org/web/20170618190008/http://www.mynamestats.com:80/First-Names/M/MA/MARLOW/index.html Archived] on 17 July 2023</ref> Keywords: common, neutral inclined, three syllables
-'''Mel'''. English. Short form of names such as Melvin, Melanie, Melissa, and other names starting with Mel.<ref>https://www.behindthename.com/name/mel [https://web.archive.org/web/20230213074956/https://www.behindthename.com/name/mel Archived] on 17 July 2023</ref> US SSA data shows about 2,985 people with this name, used as a masculine name 91% of the time,<ref>https://www.mynamestats.com/First-Names/M/ME/MEL/index.html [https://web.archive.org/web/20180118220330/http://www.mynamestats.com:80/First-Names/M/ME/MEL/index.html Archived] on 17 July 2023</ref> but there would be many more people who go by it for short, not shown on official records. Notable nonbinary people with this name include [[Mel Baggs]]. Keywords: masculine inclined, one syllable, uncommon
+'''Mel'''. English. Short form of names such as Melvin, Melanie, Melissa, Morris, Murray and other names starting with M.<ref>https://www.behindthename.com/name/mel [https://web.archive.org/web/20230213074956/https://www.behindthename.com/name/mel Archived] on 17 July 2023</ref> The boy's name Mel means "council protector";<ref name="mel-b" /> as a girl's name Mel means "black, dark."<ref name="mel-g" /> US SSA data shows about 2,985 people with this name, used as a masculine name 91% of the time, but in Argentina, New Zealand and a number of other countries, Mel is more commonly used for girls.<ref>https://www.mynamestats.com/First-Names/M/ME/MEL/index.html [https://web.archive.org/web/20180118220330/http://www.mynamestats.com:80/First-Names/M/ME/MEL/index.html Archived] on 17 July 2023</ref><ref name="mel-b">Name Berry (14 Feb 2025). [https://nameberry.com/b/girl-baby-name-mel Mel - Baby Name, Origin, Popularity and Meaning for a Boy]</ref><ref name="mel-g">Name Berry (14 Feb 2025). [https://nameberry.com/b/boy-baby-name-mel Mel - Baby Name, Origin, Popularity and Meaning for a Boy]</ref> but this does not include people who use Mel as a diminutive. Notable nonbinary people with this name include [[Mel Baggs]]. Keywords: diminutive, feminine-inclined, masculine-inclined, unisex, one syllable, three letter, common, dark
 '''Memphis'''. English. From the place name in the US, from the place name in ancient Egypt, from the Greek form of an ancient Egyptian word meaning "Enduring beauty."<ref>https://www.behindthename.com/name/memphis [https://web.archive.org/web/20230213073751/https://www.behindthename.com/name/memphis Archived] on 17 July 2023</ref> US SSA data shows about 4,077 people with this name, used as a masculine name 82% of the time.<ref>https://www.mynamestats.com/First-Names/M/ME/MEMPHIS/index.html</ref> Keywords: appearance, beauty, feminine inclined, travel, two syllables, uncommon
+'''Mercury'''. Mercury comes from the Latin ''Mercurius'', probably derived from Latin mercari "to trade" or merces "wages". Mercury was the Roman god of trade, merchants and travellers, later equated with the Greek god Hermes. It is an element that is a liquid at room temperature, the name of a planet.<ref>https://www.behindthename.com/name/mercury</ref><ref name="Mannarino2010" /> Keywords: Masculine-inclined, gods, planets, astrology, science, metals, nature, liquids, mythology, Roman.
 '''Merit'''. 1. English. Meaning "Virtue" in English.<ref>https://www.behindthename.com/name/merit-1 [https://web.archive.org/web/20230213073910/https://www.behindthename.com/name/merit-1 Archived] on 17 July 2023</ref> 2. Estonian and Swedish. A variant of the names Maret or Marit, which are forms of the name Margaret. Meaning "Pearl" in Latin and Greek.<ref>https://www.behindthename.com/name/merit-2 [https://web.archive.org/web/20230605172501/https://www.behindthename.com/name/merit-2 Archived] on 17 July 2023</ref><ref>https://www.behindthename.com/name/margaret [https://web.archive.org/web/20230213074624/https://www.behindthename.com/name/margaret Archived] on 17 July 2023</ref> US SSA data shows about 154 people with this name, used as a feminine name 71% of the time.<ref>https://www.mynamestats.com/First-Names/M/ME/MERIT/index.html</ref> Keywords: treasure, two syllables, very rare, virtue
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 '''Milan'''. 1. Bulgarian, Croatian, Czech, Macedonian, Russian, Slovak, and Slovene. Traditionally masculine. Meaning "Gracious, dear," in Slavic languages. 2. From the name of the city in Italy.<ref>https://www.behindthename.com/name/milan [https://web.archive.org/web/20230528115841/https://www.behindthename.com/name/milan Archived] on 17 July 2023</ref> US SSA data shows about 9,913 people with the given name Milan, used as a masculine name 60% of the time.<ref>https://www.mynamestats.com/First-Names/M/MI/MILAN/index.html [https://web.archive.org/web/20170429170334/http://www.mynamestats.com:80/First-Names/M/MI/MILAN/index.html Archived] on 17 July 2023</ref> For the variant '''Mylan''', SSA data shows about 938 people, used as masculine 72% of the time.<ref>https://www.mynamestats.com/First-Names/M/MY/MYLAN/index.html</ref> Keywords: neutral inclined, travel, two syllables, uncommon
+'''Mililani'''. Hawaiian, meaning "heavenly caress". <ref name="Lansky">Lansky, Bruce (2012). <a href="https://books.google.com/books/about/The_Very_Best_Baby_Name_Book.html?id=OdwPRcN8XAoC&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&printsec=frontcover&lpg=PA242">Very Best Baby Name Book</a> pp. 242</ref> Keywords: Hawaiian, American, sensory.
 '''Min'''. Chinese. Meaning depends on the characters with similar pronunciations chosen to write it. Some options for meanings include "quick, clever, sharp" (敏 Mǐn), or "people, citizens" (民 Mín).<ref>https://www.behindthename.com/name/min [https://web.archive.org/web/20230604100946/https://www.behindthename.com/name/min Archived] on 17 July 2023</ref> US SSA data shows about 588 people with this name, used as a masculine name 61% of the time.<ref>https://www.mynamestats.com/First-Names/M/MI/MIN/index.html [https://web.archive.org/web/20211204201901/https://mynamestats.com/First-Names/M/MI/MIN/index.html Archived] on 17 July 2023</ref> Keywords: intelligence, neutral inclined, one syllable
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 '''Morgan'''. English, French, and Welsh. Traditionally masculine, this name became popularly gender neutral in the 1970s. From the Old Welsh masculine name Morcant. Possibly meaning "Sea circle" in Welsh.<ref>https://www.behindthename.com/name/morgan-1 [https://web.archive.org/web/20230528101257/https://www.behindthename.com/name/morgan-1 Archived] on 17 July 2023</ref> US SSA data shows about 235,038 people with this name, used as a feminine name 84% of the time.<ref>https://www.mynamestats.com/First-Names/M/MO/MORGAN/index.html [https://web.archive.org/web/20230127010932/https://mynamestats.com/First-Names/M/MO/MORGAN/index.html Archived] on 17 July 2023</ref> Keywords: feminine inclined, mystical, two syllables, very common
+'''Moswen'''. A Tswana word for "white".<ref name="Mannarino2010">Mannarino, Melanie (2019). [https://books.google.com/books?id=LOedDwAAQBAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=Hendrix&hl=en&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&lpg=PA68#v=onepage&q=Hendrix The Best Gender-Neutral Baby Name Book]</ref> Keywords: African, very rare, two syllables, color.
 '''Murphy.''' English. From an Irish surname, anglicized from Ó Murchadha. Meaning "Descendant of Murchadh" in Irish.<ref>https://www.behindthename.com/name/murphy [https://web.archive.org/web/20230325205734/https://www.behindthename.com/name/murphy Archived] on 17 July 2023</ref> Murchadh means "Sea warrior" in Irish Gaelic.<ref>https://www.behindthename.com/name/murchadh [https://web.archive.org/web/20230213083158/https://www.behindthename.com/name/murchadh Archived] on 17 July 2023</ref> A widely familiar adage called [[Wikipedia:Murphy's Law|Murphy's Law]] says, "Anything that can go wrong, will." There is no clear association between this adage and any one person named Murphy, so it was attributed to Murphy by mistake. US SSA data shows about 4,537 people with this name, used as a masculine name 87% of the time.<ref>https://www.mynamestats.com/First-Names/M/MU/MURPHY/index.html [https://web.archive.org/web/20210923054200/https://www.mynamestats.com/First-Names/M/MU/MURPHY/index.html Archived] on 17 July 2023</ref> Keywords: battle, gothic, luck, masculine inclined, two syllables, uncommon, water