embrisa.
embrisa.
Theme
Feminine

Maia

ˈmaɪ.ə

Mother, great one

Greek

How to say it

MAI · a

ˈmaɪ.ə

What it means

Greek and Roman, the goddess Maia, eldest of the Pleiades and mother of Hermes, linked to 'mother' or 'great.'

Maia was the goddess of spring growth, eldest of the Pleiades and mother of Hermes, and the month of May is named for her. The name reads to 'mother' or 'great one,' and one of the Pleiades stars carries it. It is the older, more classical spelling beside the popular Maya, and pairs with Mia and Kaia. Said MY-ah.

How to spell Maia

The standard spelling is Maia. Common variants include Maya, Maja, Maiya, but Maia is the most widely used form.

Popularity over time

#10 #100 #1000 #1 #667718802025

peaked at #420 in 2022, currently #433 in 2025.

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–2025. Reviewed July 2026. See where the names are moving

Heads-up notes

  • Spelling

    Maia is the classical Greek spelling; Maya is the popular variant.

  • Worth knowing

    The goddess who named the month of May; a Pleiades star.

Who's worn it

Historical figures, characters, and public faces who share the name. The cultural surface, for whatever weight you want to give it.

  • Maia Greek goddess, mother of Hermes and eldest of the Pleiades

Spelling variants

  • Maya
  • Maja
  • Maiya

Common questions

What does the name Maia mean?
Greek and Roman, the goddess Maia, eldest of the Pleiades and mother of Hermes, linked to 'mother' or 'great.'
What does Maia mean in Greek?
In Greek, Maia means "Mother, great one." Maia was the goddess of spring growth, eldest of the Pleiades and mother of Hermes, and the month of May is named for her. The name reads to 'mother' or 'great one,' and one of the Pleiades stars carries it. It is the older, more classical spelling beside the popular Maya, and pairs with Mia and Kaia. Said MY-ah.
How do you pronounce Maia?
Maia is pronounced ˈmaɪ.ə. Say it as MAI-a, with the stress on the "mai" syllable.
How do you spell Maia?
The standard spelling is Maia. Common spelling variants include Maya, Maja, Maiya.
Is Maia a boy or girl name?
Maia is traditionally a feminine name.
How popular is the name Maia?
Maia ranked #433 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.