Popular and traditional South African names that start with “M”, with meanings and origin. 110 names.
| Name | Meaning | Gender | Origin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Madelein | Woman of Magdala | 👧 Girl | Afrikaans |
| Madoda | Men | 👦 Boy | Zulu |
| Magdeline | Woman of Magdala | 👧 Girl | English |
| Maggie | Pearl (Margaret) | 👧 Girl | English |
| Maggy | Pearl (Margaret) | 👧 Girl | English |
| Mahlatse | Luck; Fortune | 🧒 Unisex | Sotho |
| Malcolm | Follower of St Columba | 👦 Boy | Scottish |
| Malibongwe | Let it be praised | 👦 Boy | Xhosa |
| Malusi | Shepherd | 👦 Boy | Zulu |
| Mamello | Patience | 👧 Girl | Sotho |
| Mandisa | Sweet | 👧 Girl | Xhosa |
| Mandla | Power; Strength | 👦 Boy | Zulu |
| Mandlenkosi | Power of the Lord | 👦 Boy | Zulu |
| Mandy | Worthy of love (Amanda) | 👧 Girl | English |
| Manqoba | Victorious | 👦 Boy | Zulu |
| Mapaseka | Born at Easter | 👧 Girl | Sotho |
| Marcia | Warlike; Of Mars | 👧 Girl | Latin |
| Marietjie | Little Marie | 👧 Girl | Afrikaans |
| Marilyn | Mary; Beloved | 👧 Girl | English |
| Marlon | Little hawk; Wild boar | 👦 Boy | English |
| Marvin | Sea friend; Eminent marrow | 👦 Boy | Welsh |
| Mary | Beloved; Bitter; Mother of Jesus; Star of the sea | 👧 Girl | Hebrew |
| Masego | Blessings | 👧 Girl | Sotho |
| Mashudu | Luck; Good fortune | 🧒 Unisex | Venda |
| Masibulele | Let us be thankful | 👦 Boy | Xhosa |
| Masixole | Let us be at peace | 👦 Boy | Xhosa |
| Mathabo | Mother of joy | 👧 Girl | Sotho |
| Mathapelo | Mother of prayer | 👧 Girl | Sotho |
| Matshediso | Comfort | 👧 Girl | Sotho |
| Matshidiso | Comfort | 👧 Girl | Sotho |
| Matthew | Gift of God | 👦 Boy | Hebrew |
| Mavis | Song thrush | 👧 Girl | English |
| Mawande | They have increased | 👦 Boy | Xhosa |
| Maxwell | Mack's stream | 👦 Boy | Scottish |
| Mazwi | Words | 👦 Boy | Xhosa |
| Mbalenhle | Beautiful flower | 👧 Girl | Zulu |
| Mbali | Flower | 👧 Girl | Zulu |
| Mbongeni | Be thankful | 👦 Boy | Zulu |
| Mbongiseni | Thank him | 👦 Boy | Zulu |
| Mbulelo | Gratitude | 👦 Boy | Xhosa |
| Mbuso | Reign; Government | 👦 Boy | Zulu |
| Mcebisi | Adviser; Counsellor | 👦 Boy | Xhosa |
| Mduduzi | Comforter | 👦 Boy | Zulu |
| Melody | Melody; Song | 👧 Girl | English |
| Melusi | Shepherd | 👦 Boy | Zulu |
| Melvin | Gentle chief; Mill settlement | 👦 Boy | English |
| Memory | Memory; Remembrance | 👧 Girl | English |
| Menzi | Doer; Creator | 👦 Boy | Zulu |
| Mercia | Mercy | 👧 Girl | English |
| Mercy | Mercy; Compassion | 👧 Girl | English |
| Mervin | Sea friend; Eminent marrow | 👦 Boy | English |
| Meshack | Guest of a king (Meshach) | 👦 Boy | Hebrew |
| Mfanafuthi | Another boy | 👦 Boy | Zulu |
| Mfundo | Education; Learning | 👦 Boy | Xhosa |
| Mhlengi | Saviour; Redeemer | 👦 Boy | Zulu |
| Michael | Who is like God? | 👦 Boy | Hebrew |
| Mike | Who is like God? (Michael) | 👦 Boy | English |
| Mildred | Gentle strength | 👧 Girl | English |
| Millicent | Strong in work | 👧 Girl | English |
| Milton | Mill town | 👦 Boy | English |
| Minenhle | Beautiful day | 🧒 Unisex | Zulu |
| Minnie | Love; Resolute protector (Wilhelmina) | 👧 Girl | English |
| Miranda | Admirable; Wonderful | 👧 Girl | Latin |
| Mirriam | Wished-for child (Miriam) | 👧 Girl | English |
| Mkhululi | Liberator; Saviour | 👦 Boy | Xhosa |
| Mlondi | Protector | 👦 Boy | Zulu |
| Mluleki | Adviser; Guide | 👦 Boy | Zulu |
| Mlungisi | Fixer; One who puts things right | 👦 Boy | Xhosa |
| Mmabatho | Mother of the people | 👧 Girl | Tswana |
| Mmapula | Mother of rain | 👧 Girl | Tswana |
| Mncedisi | Helper | 👦 Boy | Xhosa |
| Mnqobi | Conqueror; Victor | 👦 Boy | Zulu |
| Modise | Shepherd | 👦 Boy | Tswana |
| Moeketsi | Adder; One who increases | 👦 Boy | Sotho |
| Mogomotsi | Comforter | 👦 Boy | Tswana |
| Mokete | Celebration | 👦 Boy | Sotho |
| Mokgadi | Keeper; Ruler | 👧 Girl | Sotho |
| Molebogeng | Thank (God) | 👧 Girl | Tswana |
| Moleboheng | Thank (God) | 👧 Girl | Sotho |
| Molefe | One who pays | 👦 Boy | Tswana |
| Moloko | Generation | 🧒 Unisex | Sotho |
| Monde | Patient | 👦 Boy | Xhosa |
| Mondli | Provider; One who feeds | 👦 Boy | Zulu |
| Mongezi | One who adds | 👦 Boy | Xhosa |
| Monwabisi | One who brings joy | 👦 Boy | Xhosa |
| Morgan | Sea-born; Bright sea | 🧒 Unisex | Welsh |
| Morne | Morning | 👦 Boy | Afrikaans |
| Morongwa | Messenger | 👧 Girl | Sotho |
| Morris | Dark-skinned; Moorish | 👦 Boy | English |
| Moses | Drawn from the water | 👦 Boy | Hebrew |
| Mothusi | Helper | 👦 Boy | Tswana |
| Motlatsi | Successor; One who follows | 👦 Boy | Sotho |
| Motsamai | Traveller | 👦 Boy | Sotho |
| Mpendulo | Answer | 👦 Boy | Zulu |
| Mpho | Gift | 🧒 Unisex | Sotho |
| Mpilo | Life | 🧒 Unisex | Zulu |
| Mpume | Success; Prosperity | 👧 Girl | Zulu |
| Mpumelelo | Success | 🧒 Unisex | Zulu |
| Msizi | Helper | 👦 Boy | Zulu |
| Mthobisi | One who humbles | 👦 Boy | Zulu |
| Mthokozisi | One who brings happiness | 👦 Boy | Zulu |
| Mthunzi | Shade; Shelter | 👦 Boy | Zulu |
| Mulalo | Peace | 🧒 Unisex | Venda |
| Musawenkosi | Mercy of the Lord | 👦 Boy | Zulu |
| Muzi | Home; Homestead | 👦 Boy | Zulu |
| Mxolisi | Peacemaker | 👦 Boy | Xhosa |
| Mzamo | Effort; Attempt | 👦 Boy | Xhosa |
| Mzukisi | One who honours the home | 👦 Boy | Xhosa |
| Mzwakhe | His home | 👦 Boy | Zulu |
| Mzwandile | The household has grown | 👦 Boy | Xhosa |