Maya
MY-uh /ˈmaɪ.ə/
Meaning of Maya
Maya has three distinct etymological strands. In Hebrew, Maya (מַיָּה) connects to mayim ('water') and is sometimes used as a form of Miriam. In Sanskrit, māyā (माया) is the philosophical concept of 'illusion' — the world of appearances. A third strand honours the ancient Maya civilisation of Mesoamerica. In modern English-language use all three associations are active simultaneously.
Current popularity of Maya
Rankings from the most recent fully-published year in each national registry. Source links at the foot of the page.
| Registry | Year | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| United States (SSA) | 2024 | #47 |
| Spain (INE) | 2024 | #11 |
Notable bearers of Maya
Maya Angelou (poet, 1928–2014); Maya Lin (architect); Maya Rudolph (actor).
Similar names & variants
Cognates, spelling variants and close relatives. Click any name with an underline to read its own page.
Sibling-name suggestions
Names that pair stylistically with Maya — useful as middle names or for siblings.
About this entry
Compiled by the Baby Name Finder editorial team following the rules in our Methodology and Editorial guidelines. If you spot an error, please tell us; our corrections policy is at /editorial-guidelines#corrections.
Sources
Last reviewed: 2026-05-31