Maya
First Name Meaning, Usage, Popularity & Related Names
Maya is a Hebrew name meaning “water”. It is a popular name, overwhelmingly used for girls, with 99.99% female usage.
Meaning & Origin of the name Maya
Maya is a name of Hebrew origin that, while sharing a form with terms in other global languages, carries the specific meaning of 'water' or 'source' in its Hebrew context. It is derived from the word mayim, which refers to the essential life-sustaining element of water. The name has seen distinct cultural adoption in Western societies, often recognized for its brevity and phonetic simplicity. While it appears in various historical and linguistic frameworks, its modern use as a given name is frequently attributed to these diverse roots.
Meaning Comments
No one has shared their thoughts about this name’s meaning yet. Be the first to comment!
Gender Usage of the Name Maya
Overall Gender Classification Methodology
Maya is overwhelmingly used as a name for girls. Approximately 99.99% of recorded bearers are female. This classification is supported by extensive records and is considered highly reliable.
Popularity of the Name Maya
Maya is among the Top 70 Trending Girls’ name in Canada for 2025
Note: Green bars show popularity (% of births); the violet line shows historical ranking. Data is based on official government birth records. Click any chart to view details by year and region.
Overall PopularityMethodology
Maya is listed under Popular Girl Names worldwide. Its popularity is relatively consistent across the available regional markets.
| Region | Popularity | Birth Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| United States | Popular | 1 in every 780 births |
| United Kingdom | Popular | 1 in every 1.8K births |
| Canada | Popular | 1 in every 470 births |
| Australia | Popular | 1 in every 323 births |
Ranking OverviewMethodology
Maya ranked #48 on the Popular Girls’ Names Worldwide List (2025). It fell from #32 in 2024 — a drop of 16 places. A widely recognized choice, Maya has maintained a steady Top-100 presence.
Historically, its best recorded position was #27 in 2009. Its lowest recorded position was #2,738 in 1961. Over recent years the ranking has shown little net change and remained relatively stable around #48.
Name StyleMethodology
Maya is classified as Classic Girl Names because it appears in 59% of available years and remains active today, averaging 5,582 births per year after a historical peak in 2006.Characteristics of the Name Maya
Pronunciation & StructureMethodology
- Phonetic Source
- CMU
- Syllables
- 2 syllables — Two-Syllable Girl Names
- Length
- 4 letters — Short Girl Names
- Starts with
- M — Girl Names Starting with M
- Ends with
- a — Girl Names Ending in “a”
Name AestheticMethodology
Maya is formed by two syllables and an open-vowel ending, producing a light and airy auditory effect. It evokes a Free-Spirited & Boho aesthetic through its widespread recognition within various global cultures and nature-focused naming trends. The name maintains a Free-Spirited & Boho feel that is both accessible and distinct.
Middle Names For Maya
Middle names used with MayaMethodology
Maya is most frequently used with these girl middle names: Maya Nicole · Maya Elizabeth · Maya Rose · Maya Marie · Maya SimoneView all 594 girl middle names.
- Total 769 middle names used with Maya
- 38 boy middle names used with Maya
- 112 unisex middle names used with Maya
Middle name suggestions for MayaMethodology
Based on observed first-middle-name pattern combinations, Maya is most frequently associated with girl middle names that have Strong stress pattern, 5 letters, and a starting sound of “m”.
Examples: Maya Moore · Maya Mills · Maya Marsh · Maya Marks · Maya Moose. View all 101 suggested middle names.
Associations of the Name Maya
Flower AssociationsMethodology
As one of the Flower-Inspired Girl Names, Maya is also found in the scientific name Hyptis maya Harley, an officially accepted species in the Lamiaceae family first described by Raymond Mervyn Harley in 2011.
Tree AssociationsMethodology
Among the Tree-Inspired Girl Names, Maya appears in the scientific names of 3 plant species, including:
- Gaussia maya (O.F.Cook) H.J.Quero & Read — Arecaceae
- Aiouea maya Lorea-Hern. — Lauraceae
Additional Natural MatchesMethodology
The complete dataset includes 37 biological records matching the name Maya. Browse all matching records with their scientific names and taxonomic details.
Names Similar to Maya
Sound Like Maya Finder
Names with the exact same overall pronunciation and sound: Mya · Myah · Miya · View all 34 names
Spelled Like Maya Finder
Names with similar spelling patterns and letter sequences: Maiya · Mayah · Maaya · View all 14 names
Same Starting Sound Finder
Names that begin with a similar phonetic sound: Mary · Margaret · Michelle · View all Top 100 names
Rhymes With Maya Finder
Names that share similar ending sounds and rhymes: Patricia · Linda · Barbara · View all Top 100 names
Same Rhythm & Syllables Finder
Names with matching syllable stress and pronunciation rhythm: Mary · Linda · Sarah · View all Top 100 names
Dictionary & Etymology of “Maya”
Dictionary Meaning of "Maya"Methodology
A female given name from Hebrew of modern usage
Examples
- When her little friends asked her what her name was, her father replied that it was Conchita - his diminutive for Maria de la Concepción. "Con-what?" they would ask again, aware, apparently, that con in French is a fool, an idiot. So her parents started calling her Maria, which from the little girl's lips soon began to sound like Maya. "Maya!" exclaimed her father. "It's perfect. It means the greatest illusion on earth." So Maya it was from then on - Maya Walter.
Translations
The name Maya has 7 translations, for example: in Russian it is rendered as name, etc..
More Info
How to Spell Maya in ASL
- M
- a
- y
- a
Comments on the name Maya
No comments yet! Be the first to share your thoughts and start the discussion!