Depends on the characters. 明 = 'bright/clear'. Paired with 月 → 'bright moon', 岳 → 'bright peak/mountain', 越 → 'bright/surpassing'. Overall: 'bright/clear' combined with moon/peak/excellence.
Chinese
Unisex
Arabic: "wishes, desires"; also used as a diminutive of Monica/Simona/Ramona (roots variously interpreted as "advisor," "solitary/alone," or in some Irish forms "little noble one").
Arabic, Irish, Italian, Latin, Spanish
Girl
From Old Irish mórrígan, commonly interpreted as 'great queen' (also rendered 'phantom/terror queen'); name of a war/sovereignty goddess in Irish mythology.
Irish, Irish (Gaelic)
Girl
From Moray (Scotland); associated with the sea or 'mariner' / 'sea settlement'
Girl
Possibly 'little beloved' or 'dear, beloved' (inferred from Slavic 'mil-')
Girl
chief, prince
Breton
Girl
Associated with 'strength' or 'main/principal'; may relate to Old French 'main' (hand) or Germanic roots meaning 'strength'
English, Germanic
Boy
Uncertain/variable - used as a male personal name in West Africa; separately, in Hawaiian 'mamane' refers to a native flowering tree
Boy
Little warrior; young warrior; devoted to Mars
Latin
Girl
Portmanteau of Mary and Joe - combining Mary (Hebrew origins: possibly 'bitter' or 'beloved') and Joseph (Hebrew 'he will add/increase')
English
Boy
Varies by kanji; commonly 'masa' = true/correct/prosperous and 'yo' = generation/world
Japanese
Girl
'Field of May' - a field where May (hawthorn) blooms; derived from the place name Mayfield.
English
Unisex
dark, black or black-haired
Greek
Girl
Who is like God?
Hebrew
Girl
bright and graceful
Chinese
Girl
Compound of 'Mohnish' (one who is like or devoted to Mohan/Krishna) and 'Kumar' (son/young prince) - roughly 'young prince devoted to/ressembling Mohan (Krishna)'
Indian
Boy
Praiseworthy; "the praised one"
Arabic
Boy
town by a lake or pool
English
Boy
Of Magdala (a town); often interpreted as 'from the tower' or 'tower'
Girl
Protector of the earth (guardian or ruler of the land)
Indian, Sanskrit
Boy
Derived from Latin 'Maximus' meaning 'greatest' (often interpreted as 'the greatest' or 'very great')
Latin
Boy
Sweet, charming; melodious and pleasing
Sanskrit
Girl
Likely 'famous in battle' (renown + battle)
Germanic
Girl
devotee or servant of Saint Máedóc (Maedoc)
Irish, Norman
Boy
Diminutive of Maria (from Hebrew Miryam), often interpreted as 'bitter' or 'beloved'.
Polish, Slavic
Girl
mighty in battle
Germanic
Girl
From Greek mēdomai 'to think, to plan' - often rendered 'planner' or 'cunning/strategic thinker'.
Commonly 'beautiful, wise child' (most often written 美智子); meaning can vary with different kanji (e.g., 'child of the way').
Japanese
Girl
Chinese: "bright peace" (明 = bright, 安 = peace). As an indigenous place-name the exact original meaning is uncertain.
Chinese
Boy
Variant of Mona/Monet; often associated with 'wish/desire' (from Arabic/Persian Mona) or connected to the name/artist Monet
English
Girl
Varies by origin: 'great' (Irish), 'great queen' (Morrigan), 'sea' (from Marina), 'brown/dark' (from Morena), or a diminutive of Mary (Maureen).
Gaelic
Girl
Derived from Murray - 'from Moray' (a region; name often associated with 'sea settlement' or 'of the sea').
Boy
A contemporary elaboration likely conveying 'beloved' or 'gracious', derived from names like Mila/Myla.
Girl
From a Celtic root meaning "chief" or "prince"; as a diminutive often interpreted as "little chief".
Breton, Celtic, Irish
Boy
strong, brave (strength + hardy)
Germanic, Spanish
Boy
Unclear; possibly related to 'mama' (mother) or a regional/clan name - no single well‑documented meaning
Unisex
Derived from Marcellus, meaning 'little/young warrior' or 'little Marcus' (of Mars).
Latin
Boy
Marjoram (the herb); by association, related to Mary
Dutch
Girl
Varies by kanji; commonly 'masa' (correct/righteous) + 'yoshi' (good/virtuous) - roughly 'righteous and good'.
Japanese
Boy
Probably related to 'May' (born in May/seasonal) or a modern elaboration of Megan; conveys a spring/May association
English
Girl
dark, black (often interpreted as dark-haired)
English, Greek
Girl
Who is like God?
Hebrew, Latin
Girl
Most commonly 'bright moon' (明月); alternatively 'bright friend' (明友) or, in Vietnamese, 'beloved' (yêu).
Chinese
Unisex
One who does good; benefactor, benevolent or charitable person
Arabic
Boy
Reviver of the religion / reviver of the faith
Arabic
Boy
A modern invented name; often viewed as a feminine variant of Misha or a blend of 'My' + 'Shae'. Associated meanings can draw from Misha/Michael ('Who is like God?') or Shae/Shea ('admirable, stately').
English
Girl
From Magdala ('tower'); associated with Mary Magdalene
