How to say it
MA · ya
/ˈmaɪ.ə/
Feminine
Maya
Illusion, or 'water'
What it means
Two main roots: Sanskrit māyā ('illusion, magic'), a philosophical term in Hindu thought; or Hebrew מַיָּא ('water'). Also unrelated to but echoing the Mayan civilization of Mesoamerica.
Maya draws from several roots that converged in modern English usage. In Sanskrit, māyā is a key term in Hindu philosophy meaning 'illusion' or the appearance of the world that hides ultimate reality. In Hebrew, מַיָּא means 'water,' related to Miriam and Mary's etymology. Maya was also the name of the Roman goddess Maia (mother of Mercury, namesake of May), and the same letters mark the Mayan civilization. Maya Angelou (1928-2014) gave the name decisive modern currency in English. It's been in the US top 100 since 2002. Rarely shortens.
Popularity over time
peaked at #49 in 2023, currently #62 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–present. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Pronunciation
MAH-yah, two syllables, the standard US form. Some families use MY-ah for the same spelling.
- Spelling
Maya, Maia, Mya, and Miya all circulate. The Maya spelling carries both Sanskrit and Maya-civilization echoes.
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.
- Maya Angelou American poet and memoirist, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, 1928-2014
- Maya Rudolph Actress and comedian, Saturday Night Live and Bridesmaids
Spelling variants
- Maia
- Mya
- Miya
Names with the same feeling
See Maya from another angle
By style