Maya

Maya is a girl's name with various origins and meanings. It traces back to Indian philosophy but also has a Hebrew background and represents a variant of Maia and Maria.

What does the name Maya mean?

Maya is a girl's name with various origins and meanings. It traces back to Indian philosophy but also has a Hebrew background and represents a variant of Maia and Maria. In Hinduism and Buddhism, Māyā is the goddess of illusion and the creator of the universe. She is an incarnation of the primordial mother Durga and embodies the creative energy through which the universe was created. The name likely derives from the Sanskrit word māyā (माया) meaning 'illusion, magic,' so the first name can be translated as 'the illusion.' The name Maya also has a Hebrew background. It can be derived from the Hebrew word máyim (מַיִם) meaning 'water,' thus having the meaning 'the water.' As a variant of Maia, which is particularly common in the English-speaking world, the name Maya primarily traces back to Greek and Roman mythology: In Greek mythology, Maia is one of the seven Pleiades (nymphs) and the mother of Hermes by Zeus. In this case, the name derives from ancient Greek maîa (μαῖᾰ) meaning 'good mother, nurse' and translates to 'the good mother.' In Roman mythology, Maia is the goddess of growth and spring. Derived from the Latin root maior meaning 'greater,' the name means 'the greater one.' Since the spring goddess Maia is also said to have given her name to the month of May, the first name is often translated as 'the one born in May.' The girl's name Maya also appears in some language areas as a variant of Maria or its root name Maryam. Its origins are unknown, but it likely has Egyptian roots and means 'the beloved' or derives from Aramaic and Hebrew, resulting in possible meanings such as 'the (gifted by God),' 'the well-nourished,' 'the sea myrrh,' 'the sea drop,' 'the rebellious one,' or 'the untamed one.' More about the individual derivations can be found on the name page for Maria. Generally, the first name Maya is often associated with the Mesoamerican high culture. However, it has no connections to the Maya civilization or the indigenous people of the Maya who still live in Central America today. With approximately 1.7 million bearers worldwide, Maya is one of the most common female first names. The name is especially widespread in English-speaking countries. Maya is also very common in Israel and has been used as a first name in Germany for many years. In recent years, Maya, almost on par with the variant spelling Maja, has even developed into one of the most popular girls' names in Germany. Notable bearers include the American writer Maya Angelou and the American actress Maya Hawke.

Where does the name Maya come from?

Etymology Maya is a female first name of Sanskrit and Latin origin with meanings such as 'the illusion' or 'the greater one' and others.

How do you pronounce Maya?

Sound & pronunciation of Maya: The name Maya is two syllables and flows softly. In German pronunciation, it is usually spoken as 'Ma-ya' [ˈmaɪ̯a] or [ˈmaːja], with the vowel combination creating an open sound at the beginning. The open ending gives the name lightness. Maya feels international and vibrant - modern, sonorous, and present.

When is the name day of Maya?

The most important name day for Maya as a variant of Maria is September 12 (Feast of the Holy Name of Mary).

Popularity

Maya is a very popular first name in Germany. Currently, it ranks 49th on the list of the most common female baby names. Its best placement was in 2010 at 30th place. In the last ten years, Maya has been given as a first name about 15,100 times, placing it 41st in the ten-year statistics. From 2010 to 2024, it ranks 43rd.

Nicknames & pet names

Aier / Aya / Ayvar / Biene / Mahy / Mai / Maila / Mailie / Majka / Majo / Major / Mana / May / Mayachen / Mayakura / Mayapapaya / Mayapu / Mayi / Mayischi / Mayka / Mayla / Maymay / Mayo / Mayoechen / Mayonnaise / Mayorca / Maytscha / Meier / Meya / Mia / Miu / Mäcces / Möjarr / Schmaya / Weimar

Similar first names

Famous people

• Maya Angelou (* 1928), American writer
• Maya Azucena (American musician)
• Maya Beiser (American musician)
• Maya Bejerano (American poet)
• Maya Burman (French artist)
• Maya Christina Gonzalez (American artist)
• Maya Deren (1917–1961), American director
• Maya Fischer (main character from the novel 'Maya and Domenico')
• Maya Haddad (German actress)
• Maya Hakvoort (musical performer)
• Maya Harrisson (Brazilian alpine ski racer)
• Maya Hawke (actress)
• Maya Kamath (Indian illustrator)
• Maya Karin (actress from Germany)
• Maya Kristalinskaya (singer from Russia)
• Maya Ling Lin (American architect & artist)
• Maya Maron (actress from Israel)
• Maya Matievich (American musician)
• Maya Miles (model from England)
• Maya Mishalska (Mexican actress)