Origin, Meaning, And History Of Maya
The name Maya has its origins in various languages such as Sanskrit, Hebrew, Latin, Greek, Maori, and even an extinct language called Tupi. Hence, it is no surprise that the name has an array of meanings. The name Maya in Sanskrit is deeply immersed in religion and spiritualism and means “illusion” and “magic.” It is a popular name for girls in the Hindi language, with its roots in Sanskrit.
In Greek and Roman theology, Maia is the mother of the Olympian God, Hermes. In the Maori language of New Zealand, Maya means “courage,” while in the ancient and now extinct Tupi language of Brazil, it means “mother.” It is a shorter version of the word Amalia or Amaya in Spanish. Maya also refers to the Mesoamerican civilization that existed in Guatemala till the 9th century.
Maja is another version of the name Maya in German and could also mean “splendid.” At the same time, there are even shorter versions of the name Maya such as Mia or Mya. In Burmese, however, the name Mya means “emerald” and is used for both boys and girls.
Just four letters but rich in meaning, the name Maya and its different versions offer a variety of choices for parents looking for a powerful name for their baby girl. It has risen in popularity over the years and has gradually become a familiar name in most countries.
There are a plethora of films named Maya, as well as fictional characters. In the popular Power Rangers series, Maya is the name of the Yellow Power Ranger, who is a tribes girl from the fictional planet Mirinoi. In the 1912 German children’s book The Adventures of Maya the Bee, the protagonist is named Maya. The Marvel Comics character Echo is a native American called Maya Lopez who first appeared in Daredevil comics in 1999.
Maya
Girl
Greek, Hindu
Sanskrit, Ancient Greek
4
One
1 word, 4 letters, 2 vowels, 2 consonants
Short and easy to pronounce
How To Pronounce Maya?
The way you pronounce a name can make all the difference.
Listen to the sound of the name Maya in Hindi.
Listen to the sound of the name Maya in English.
Famous People With The Name Maya
- Maya AngelouAfrican-American author and poet
- Mathangi “Maya” ArulpragasamBritish singer/rapper better known as M.I.A
- Maya ErskineAmerican actress
- Maya WileyAmerican civil rights activist and lawyer
- Maya South Korean K-Pop singer
- Maya StojanSwiss actress
- Maya RudolphAmerican actress and Saturday Night Live cast member
- Maya MooreAmerican basketball player
- Maya HawkeAmerican actress
- Maya DerenAmerican avant-garde filmmaker
Maya On The Popularity Chart
The name Maya has seen a steady rise in popularity since the 1990s. Take a look at the graphic representation below to learn about its popularity.
Popularity Over Time
From 390 babies per million being named Maya in 1980, there was a spike in its popularity in 1990, with 690 babies getting the name Maya. The name continued to grow in popularity, hitting an all-time high in 2006, with 5047 babies being named Maya.
Source: Social Security AdministrationRank Over Time
Ranking as low as 747 in 1986, Maya improved upon its popularity, reaching 57 in 2006. Its highest ranking so far is 55, recorded in 2021. Maya has remained in the top 500 names for babies since 1990. Find out more from the graph below.
Source: Social Security AdministrationMaya On MomJunction Popularity Chart
Know how popular the name Maya is among the MomJunction readers. We used a unique approach to gather relevant insights for creating this popularity chart by observing the interactions and interest around the name on our platform. See what the trend has been among our readers over these past years.
Names With Similar Sound As Maya
If you want your baby’s name to start with a different letter but love how Maya sounds, look no further. Check out the list below for more options.
Popular Sibling Names For Maya
If you are looking for some matching sibling names that resonate with Maya, check our suggestions here.
Boy Sibling Names For Maya
Find matching brother names for Maya and create a wonderful team of siblings.
MadanagopalaMadanapala Madhukantha Mahaadeva Mahaja Mahan Mahisa Makaranda Makula Makura Girl Sibling Names For Maya
Looking for some suitable sister names for Maya? Check out our collection of beautiful and unique names.
MaanasaMahua Mala Malis Maly Manashi Manasija Manavi Maniman Manini Other Popular Names Beginning With M
Looking for more baby names starting with the letter M to resonate with your family’s naming tradition or to rhyme with the sibling names? Find a range of alternative names starting with this letter.
Names With Same Meaning As Maya
There is no denying the beauty the name Maya carries, but you may want a different name for your younger baby girl with the same meaning as Maya. Take a look at the list below.
Anagram Names Of Maya
William Shakespeare is known for his ‘onomastic wit,’ with anagrams being one of them (remember the play Twelfth Night?). Anagram is the rearrangement of the same letters to form different words. Anagramming names has been in vogue for centuries now, and why not when it can create some cute names? Anagram baby names stand out with their unique sound and spellings. You may try an anagram of your name or your partner’s; even better if you combine both names and then try an anagram for the baby. It all stays in the family this way. You may also try anagram names for siblings, especially twins. Here are some anagrams of Maya.
Amay Amya Yama Popular Songs On The Name Maya
Maya’s Zodiac Sign And Birth Star As Per Vedic Astrology
Vedic astrology, also called Jyotisha, provides deep insights into a person’s life based on celestial positions at birth. Rashi and nakshatra, which are an integral part of Jyotisha, are believed to influence an individual’s personality and life events. The following sections give you rashi-related information, such as the associated letters, elements, ruling body, quality, and nakshatra for the name Maya. These details help analyze a person’s characteristics, personality, and behavior.
Zodiac Sign (Rashi)
As shown in the following table, each rashi is associated with specific sounds, which are often used as the starting letters of names for newborns in Hindu families. Each rashi is represented by a figure and one of the five elements – Earth, Water, Fire, Air, and Ether (Space). One ruling celestial body, known as its 'rashi lord' or 'ruler' is assigned to these rashis. These bodies include Venus, Mars, Sun, Moon, Mercury, Jupiter, and Saturn. Furthermore, the rashis are assigned various qualities or gunas.
| Rashi (zodiac sign) | Simha (Leo) |
|---|---|
| Starting letters for Simha (Leo) rashi | M, TT |
| Representation | Lion |
| Element | Fire |
| Ruling body | Sun |
| Quality | Fixed |
Birth Star (Nakshatra)
Another important aspect of Vedic Astrology is the nakshatras, the lunar constellations or star clusters that the Moon occupies during a person's birth. There are 27 nakshatras, each with its own unique qualities, attributes, and symbolism. Each rashi contains two-and-one-fourth nakshatras in it. For example, Aries contains Ashwini, Bharani, and Krithika nakshatras.
The below table provides information on the nakshatras’ degrees on the zodiac circle, their lords and related syllables, for babies born in the Simha (Leo) rashi. These syllables/phonetics are popularly used to choose the baby name. For precise nakshatra calculation based on your baby's birthplace and date, use our Nakshatra Calculator.
| Nakshatra | Degrees Of The Nakshatra | Nakshatra Lord (Ruler) | Name Syllables |
|---|---|---|---|
| Magha (Makha, Makam) | Leo (0 to 13.20 degrees) | Ketu | Ma, Maa, Mi, Mee, Mu, Me |
| Purva Phalguni (Pooram, Pubba) | Leo (13.20 to 26.40 degrees) | Venus | Mo, Ta, Taa, Ti, Tee, Tu |
| Uttara Phalguni (Uthiram, Utram) | Leo (26.40 to 30 degrees) | Sun | Te, Ta, Taa, To, Pa, Paa, Pi, Pee |
Infographic: Know The Name Maya‘s Personality As Per Numerology
Illustration: Momjunction Design Team
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Maya In Different Languages
It’s exciting to see our baby’s name spelled and written in various languages. See how people spell Maya in Spanish, French, German, Italian, and more! Each language has its own way of saying Maya, but it’s still the same special name. Learn how the name looks and sounds in different languages around the world!
| Name | Language | Code |
|---|---|---|
| Maya | English | en |
| 玛雅人 | Chinese | zh-CN |
| माया | Hindi | hi |
| Maya | Spanish | es |
| Maya | French | fr |
| مايا | Arabic | ar |
| মায়া | Bengali | bn |
| Maya | Portuguese | pt |
| Майя | Russian | ru |
| مایا | Urdu | ur |
| Maya | Indonesian | id |
| Maya | German | de |
| マヤ | Japanese | ja |
| माया | Marathi | mr |
| మాయ | Telugu | te |
| Maya | Turkish | tr |
| மாயா | Tamil | ta |
| Maya | Vietnamese | vi |
| Maya | Tagalog | tl |
| 마야 | Korean | ko |
| Maya | Hausa | ha |
| Maya | Swahili | sw |
| Maya | Javanese | jv |
| Maya | Italian | it |
| ਮਾਇਆ | Punjabi | pa |
| માયા | Gujarati | gu |
| มายา | Thai | th |
| ಮಾಯಾ | Kannada | kn |
| ማያ | Amharic | am |
| माया | Bhojpuri | bho |
| Maya | Yoruba | yo |
How To Communicate The Name Maya In Sign Languages
In Nautical Flags
maya
In Sign Language
maya
In Braille Alphabet
maya
In Morse Code
maya
Name Numerology For Maya
Numerology is an occult system that gives significance to numbers and their influence on human life and destiny. Numerologists attribute specific qualities, energies, and characteristics to a number. Parents who believe in numerology prefer to choose baby names that resonate positively with the child’s unique numerical vibrations, often derived from their date of birth. Here we give a general birth number and personality traits of the name Maya, based on the Pythagorean (Western) system. This analysis will differ from child to child based on their date of birth. You may use our numerology calculator for more personalized information.
Baby Name Lists Containing Maya
Read through our baby name lists that include the name Maya and several other similar names. The wider the choice, the better your selection. Isn't it?
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Movie Titles Inspired By The Name Maya
Discover the presence of Maya in an array of films. Know about the various movies that have this name.
| Movie title | Other titles | Release year |
|---|---|---|
| Take Care of Maya | Cuiden a Maya, Kümmert euch um Maya, Maya'ya İyi Bakın, O Mistério de Maya, Salvate Maya, Ta vare på Maya, Take Care of Maya: Quand l'hôpital fait mal, Vigyázzatok Mayára!, Zaopiekujcie się Mayą, Позаботьтесь о Майе, マヤを救って －小児医療の実像を問う－, 好好照顧瑪雅：虐兒案羅生門 | 2023 |
| Le Shuru Hoge Maya Ke Kahani | ले सुरू होगे मया के कहानी | 2023 |
| Mar Dare Maya Ma | Maar Dare Maya Ma, मार डारे मया मा | 2022 |
| Maya Nilo (Laura) | Sagres | 2022 |
| Maya and the Wave | 2022 | |
| Maya the Bee 3: The Golden Orb | A Abelhinha Maya e o Ovo Dourado, Albinuța Maya 3: Orbul de aur, Arı Maya 3: Altın Küre, Bien Maja og det gyldne æg, Bien Maja og det gylne egget, Biet Maya och det gyllene ägget, Bitė Maja. Auksinis kiaušinis, Die Biene Maja - Das geheime Königreich, Die Biene Maja 3 - Das geheime Königreich, La abeja Maya 3, La abeja Maya y el orbe dorado, La abeja Maya. El orbe dorado, Maija Mehiläinen ja kultainen aarre, Maja, a méhecske: Az aranygömb, Maya en het gouden ei, Maya l'abeille 3, Pčelica Maja 3: Zlatno jaje, Pszczółka Maja: Mały wielki skarb, Маяа зөгий 3: Алтан өндөг, Пчелка Майя: Медовый движ | 2021 |
| Maya and Her Lover | 2021 | |
| Maya Kannadi | 2020 |
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the meaning of the name Maya?
The name Maya means ‘illusion,’ and ‘magic.’
2. What is the origin of the name Maya?
Maya has a Sanskrit and Hebrew origins.
3. How to pronounce the name Maya?
Maya is pronounced as maya.
4. Does Maya have any international or cross-cultural appeal?
Maya is a prominent feminine name worldwide, as many famous personalities and fictional characters share the title. For instance, in the music world, Maya (Kim Young-sook) is a South Korean pop-rock singer and actress known for her hit single ‘Azalea.’ In Television, Maya Avant is a notable character from the popular TV series ‘The Bold and the Beautiful.’ Lastly, in sports, Maya Calé-Benzoor is an Israel-based former Olympic athlete and Bronze-medalist in European Masters’ Championships (Women’s triple jump, 2001).
5. Does Maya have any connotations or associations regarding its sound or meaning?
The word Maya has numerous connotations within Indian philosophies. The Indian Vedic texts describe Maya as a magic or illusion that conceals spiritual reality’s real essence or character. While in Buddhism, Maya is the name of Gautham Buddha’s mother, it is also considered one of the aspects of the mind responsible for the deceit or concealment of the true nature of things.
Look Up For Many More Names
Do you have a name in mind and want to know more about it? Or want to find names belonging to a particular origin, religion, or having a specific meaning? Use our search tool below to explore more baby names with different combinations.
