Discover the Top 100 Cities That Start With M in 2024

Let’s talk about some marvelous, majestic metropolises starting with “M.”

Hundreds of cities start with the mesmerizing thirteenth letter of the alphabet. The letter “M” is in many languages but can appear in different forms. You’ll notice that these “M” cities are all over the globe, proving that there’s something universal about this masterful letter!

636 cities with over 50,000 residents exist worldwide, starting with the letter “M.” However, each name came about uniquely. While you read, consider how history and culture have impacted the names we see today. Without further ado, here is a list of the largest 100 cities on Earth that start with the magnificent “M”!

1. Mumbai, India

Mumbai, India, is the largest city in the world, with an “M.” Over 21,673,000 people live there as of 2024. Mumbai got its name from a patron deity that was worshipped by some of the earliest inhabitants of the land. Mumbai was previously named Bombay, but after Shiv Sena came into power in 1995, the city was renamed to reflect its cultural heritage better. Mumbadevi was the goddess that Mumbai was named after.

2. Mexico City, Mexico

Mexico City, Mexico is the second-largest city in the world that starts with an “M.” The city has a population of 22,505,315 residents in 2024. Mexico is a Náhuatl word that translates to “place in the center of the Moon.” The country’s name dates back to the Aztec inhabitants of the land. Initially, Mexico was called Tenochtitlan, but the pronunciation was too difficult for the Spanish, so it was renamed. Mexico City is the capital of Mexico.

3. Moscow, Russia

Moscow, Russia, is the next largest city in the world that starts with an “M.” The total population of Moscow in 2024 is 12,712,000. Moscow got its name after the Moskva river that runs by the city. Moscow received its name in 1147. Initially, the city was a very small town. Since then, of course, it has grown substantially!

4. Melbourne, Australia

The fourth-largest city in the world that starts with the letter “M” is Melbourne, Australia. 5,316,000 people live in Melbourne as of 2024. Once the land was settled on April 10, 1837, the settlement was named Melbourne after the British Prime Minister, Lord William Lamb of Melbourne. However, before its present name, it was Batmania! The literal translation of Melbourne is “mill by the stream.”

5. Madrid, Spain

The fifth-largest city in the world that starts with the letter “M” is Madrid, Spain. The total population of Madrid, Spain in 2024 is 6,783,000. Surprisingly, the root of the name is Arabic. The Arabic word “magerit” means “place of many streams.” Madrid has had the same name for a very long time. It dates back to the 2nd Century BC.

6. Mogadishu, Somalia

The sixth-largest city in the world that starts with the letter “M” is Mogadishu, Somalia. In 2024, Mogadishu has a population of approximately 2,727,000 residents. The origin of the name Mogadishu isn’t totally clear, but there are a few different theories. One prevailing idea is that the city name refers to the city’s beauty. The Somali words “Muuq” and “Disho” mean “Blinder,” and Mogadishu is “blindingly” stunning! Another idea is that Mogadishu comes from the Persian word for “the seat of the Shah.”

7. Mashhad, Iran

Mashhad, Iran, is the seventh-largest city in the world, starting with the letter “M.” It is home to 2,307,177 residents in 2024. The city is named after Imam Reza, the eighth Shia Imam. He received the name “Mashhad” after his burial. The word Mashhad means “place of martyrdom.” The city got its name in the latter part of the 10th century.

8. Maracaibo, Venezuela

The eighth-largest city that starts with an “M” is Maracaibo, Venezuela. In 2024, 2,401,000 residents live in Maracaibo, Venezuela. The city’s name is from “Mara Cayo,” which was a battle shout. In 1529, the Venezuelan city received its official name. Initially, the city’s full name was Nueva Zamora de la Laguna de Maracaibo.

9. Medellin, Colombia

Medellin, Colombia, is the ninth-largest city in the world that starts with an “M.” It is home to 1,999,979 metro residents as of 2024 (and an urban population of 4,137,000). The name’s history dates back to 75 BC. When Roman General Quintus Caecilius Metellus Pius founded the village, it was a military base. Thus, the base was named after him. Since then, the area has evolved significantly. Indeed, the city’s population has grown immensely.

10. Maracay, Venezuela

Maracay, Venezuela, is the tenth-largest city that starts with an “M.” It is home to 1,257,000 residents. The origin of this city’s name is also debated. A local indigenous chief was named “Maracayo,” meaning small tiger. Another potential explanation is that a tree grew locally called a “Mara.” It’s unclear which explanation is accurate, but generally, it’s believed that the city was named after the chief.

Those are the top ten largest cities! Finally, here’s a list of the next 90 largest cities in the world that start with an “M.”

Other Cities That Start With An “M”

There are cities all over the globe that start with the letter “M.” It’s a popular first letter for cities in all corners of the Earth. Overall, each city’s name has a unique and often blurry story of how it came to be. Understanding the evolution of language and culture can make for a fun learning opportunity! While all these cities start with the same letter, each has a special and powerful story behind their names.