Maya Name Meaning
A sweet pick on the rise, Maya has the swoon-worthy meaning of “dream.” A name of mixed origins, she’s most associated with her Indian roots.
With her soft sound, Maya is right at home among the top girl names of today. Like the similar Mia, she’s short and sweet, yet she has an exotic flair that’s hard to miss. The inner Y styling matches many of today’s top picks like Aaliyah and Skylar and her M start rides the wave along with other popular M names for girls like Mila, Madison, and Mackenzie.
She’s effortlessly feminine, the perfect name for a little girl or adult alike. Like her meaning, Maya is as light and airy as a dream. A great pick for a little girl with her eyes on the sky, she’s ready and waiting to carry a little one to new heights. She’s a whimsical name with a soothing feel, her poetic ties to Maya Angelou adding to her appeal for many. Delicate and delightful, it’s no surprise that parents are loving Maya.
Maya does have other spelling variations as well, including Maia and Mya, though Maya is by far the most popular. Similar names to Maya include Kaya, Lilah, and Amaya.
Infographic of Maya name meaning, which is Maya means dream or illusion in Sanskrit and also appears in Greek mythology
Ask your friends & family about Maya…
Maya Name Popularity
How popular is the name Maya? Here’s everything we know.
| Year |
Rank |
# Births |
% Births |
| 1910 |
— |
0 |
0% |
| 1911 |
— |
0 |
0% |
| 1912 |
— |
0 |
0% |
| 1913 |
— |
0 |
0% |
| 1914 |
— |
0 |
0% |
| 1915 |
— |
0 |
0% |
| 1916 |
— |
0 |
0% |
| 1917 |
— |
0 |
0% |
| 1918 |
— |
0 |
0% |
| 1919 |
— |
0 |
0% |
| 1920 |
— |
0 |
0% |
| 1921 |
— |
0 |
0% |
| 1922 |
— |
0 |
0% |
| 1923 |
— |
0 |
0% |
| 1924 |
— |
0 |
0% |
| 1925 |
— |
0 |
0% |
| 1926 |
— |
0 |
0% |
| 1927 |
— |
0 |
0% |
| 1928 |
— |
0 |
0% |
| 1929 |
— |
0 |
0% |
| 1930 |
— |
0 |
0% |
| 1931 |
— |
0 |
0% |
| 1932 |
— |
0 |
0% |
| 1933 |
— |
0 |
0% |
| 1934 |
— |
0 |
0% |
| 1935 |
— |
0 |
0% |
| 1936 |
— |
0 |
0% |
| 1937 |
— |
0 |
0% |
| 1938 |
— |
0 |
0% |
| 1939 |
— |
0 |
0% |
| 1940 |
— |
0 |
0% |
| 1941 |
— |
0 |
0% |
| 1942 |
— |
0 |
0% |
| 1943 |
— |
0 |
0% |
| 1944 |
— |
0 |
0% |
| 1945 |
— |
0 |
0% |
| 1946 |
— |
0 |
0% |
| 1947 |
— |
0 |
0% |
| 1948 |
— |
0 |
0% |
| 1949 |
— |
0 |
0% |
| 1950 |
— |
0 |
0% |
| 1951 |
— |
0 |
0% |
| 1952 |
— |
0 |
0% |
| 1953 |
2,015 |
5 |
0.0003% |
| 1954 |
— |
0 |
0% |
| 1955 |
— |
0 |
0% |
| 1956 |
— |
0 |
0% |
| 1957 |
— |
0 |
0% |
| 1958 |
2,263 |
5 |
0.0003% |
| 1959 |
1,799 |
9 |
0.0005% |
| 1960 |
1,751 |
11 |
0.0006% |
| 1961 |
2,207 |
5 |
0.0003% |
| 1962 |
1,555 |
18 |
0.001% |
| 1963 |
1,957 |
8 |
0.0004% |
| 1964 |
1,577 |
17 |
0.001% |
| 1965 |
1,920 |
8 |
0.0005% |
| 1966 |
1,426 |
22 |
0.0014% |
| 1967 |
1,500 |
20 |
0.0013% |
| 1968 |
1,240 |
35 |
0.0023% |
| 1969 |
1,072 |
58 |
0.0038% |
| 1970 |
900 |
95 |
0.006% |
| 1971 |
960 |
83 |
0.0055% |
| 1972 |
904 |
87 |
0.0064% |
| 1973 |
948 |
78 |
0.006% |
| 1974 |
845 |
107 |
0.0082% |
| 1975 |
757 |
137 |
0.0107% |
| 1976 |
693 |
162 |
0.0126% |
| 1977 |
539 |
289 |
0.0214% |
| 1978 |
568 |
260 |
0.0193% |
| 1979 |
513 |
341 |
0.0242% |
| 1980 |
505 |
358 |
0.0245% |
| 1981 |
571 |
277 |
0.0188% |
| 1982 |
550 |
299 |
0.02% |
| 1983 |
610 |
236 |
0.016% |
| 1984 |
682 |
196 |
0.0132% |
| 1985 |
692 |
207 |
0.0136% |
| 1986 |
752 |
178 |
0.0118% |
| 1987 |
648 |
239 |
0.0157% |
| 1988 |
671 |
240 |
0.0154% |
| 1989 |
621 |
294 |
0.0182% |
| 1990 |
401 |
614 |
0.037% |
| 1991 |
440 |
538 |
0.033% |
| 1992 |
368 |
655 |
0.041% |
| 1993 |
276 |
979 |
0.0628% |
| 1994 |
246 |
1,101 |
0.0717% |
| 1995 |
228 |
1,217 |
0.0807% |
| 1996 |
202 |
1,418 |
0.0947% |
| 1997 |
182 |
1,654 |
0.1118% |
| 1998 |
123 |
2,675 |
0.1787% |
| 1999 |
113 |
2,837 |
0.1894% |
| 2000 |
113 |
3,010 |
0.197% |
| 2001 |
110 |
3,003 |
0.1993% |
| 2002 |
90 |
3,541 |
0.2363% |
| 2003 |
84 |
3,843 |
0.2526% |
| 2004 |
83 |
3,763 |
0.2469% |
| 2005 |
73 |
4,428 |
0.2896% |
| 2006 |
57 |
5,046 |
0.3223% |
| 2007 |
62 |
4,695 |
0.2976% |
| 2008 |
71 |
4,265 |
0.2759% |
| 2009 |
61 |
4,390 |
0.2937% |
| 2010 |
66 |
3,961 |
0.2749% |
| 2011 |
64 |
4,012 |
0.2816% |
| 2012 |
63 |
3,970 |
0.2786% |
| 2013 |
72 |
3,820 |
0.2683% |
| 2014 |
74 |
3,945 |
0.2708% |
| 2015 |
68 |
4,121 |
0.2832% |
| 2016 |
64 |
4,067 |
0.2821% |
| 2017 |
61 |
3,999 |
0.2865% |
| 2018 |
61 |
3,873 |
0.2819% |
| 2019 |
64 |
3,773 |
0.2787% |
| 2020 |
61 |
3,621 |
0.2845% |
| 2021 |
56 |
3,677 |
0.3008% |
| 2022 |
51 |
4,199 |
0.3183% |
| 2023 |
49 |
4,076 |
0.3149% |
District of Columbia (DC)
Data via SSA.gov.
Names Like Maya
If you like Maya, you’ll love these other names like Maya.
What names are diminutives of Maya?
A diminutive is a name that’s like Maya sounds, you might also like these names that sound like Maya, but shorter.
| Name |
Meaning |
Origin |
Popularity |
Other Gender |
|
May
|
The fifth month
|
English
|
|
|
|
Mimi
|
A diminutive form of Miriam and, through the French, of Wilhelmina.
|
French
|
|
|
What names are variants of Maya?
Mix it up with these names that are a variation of the name Maya.
| Name |
Meaning |
Origin |
Popularity |
Other Gender |
|
Maeja
|
|
|
|
|
|
Maia
|
Great; mother
|
Greek
|
|
|
|
Maiya
|
Rice valley
|
Japanese
|
|
|
|
Mayah
|
Great; mother
|
Greek
|
|
|
|
Meya
|
|
Scandinavian
|
|
|
|
Miah
|
|
Spanish
|
|
|
|
Miya
|
Temple
|
Japanese
|
|
|
|
Mya
|
Dream
|
Indian (Sanskrit)
|
|
|
What names sound like Maya?
If you like how Maya sounds, you might also like these names that sound like Maya.
| Name |
Meaning |
Origin |
Popularity |
Other Gender |
|
Kaya
|
Restful place, yew tree, forgiveness; home; stone; willow, wise child; the one with the beautiful body, profile
|
Turkish
|
|
|
|
Mia
|
Dear
|
Scandinavian
|
|
|
|
Mila
|
Dear and gracious
|
Slavic
|
|
|
|
Mira
|
Wonderful; peace; propserous
|
Spanish
|
|
|
What names are similar to Maya?
Find a name that’s like Maya, but just a little bit different.
| Name |
Meaning |
Origin |
Popularity |
Other Gender |
|
Aria
|
Vocal solo
|
English
|
|
|
|
Celeste
|
Heavenly
|
Latin
|
|
|
|
Layla
|
Night
|
Arabic
|
|
|
|
Lilah
|
Night
|
Arabic
|
|
|
|
Lucia
|
Of the light
|
Italian
|
|
|
|
Lucy
|
Of the light
|
English
|
|
|
|
Luna
|
The moon
|
Latin
|
|
|
|
Nina
|
Little girl
|
Spanish
|
|
|
|
Stella
|
Celestial star
|
Latin
|
|
|
|
Veda
|
Knowledge, wisdom
|
Indian (Sanskrit)
|
|
|
Lists With Maya
Find inspiration in these baby girl name lists featuring the name Maya.
-
Emo Girl Names Packed With Style // 140 names
Emo girl names offer fashion, fierceness, and, yes, sensitivity. Connect with your emotional side and give these cuties a gander, including musical monikers and much more.
-
Two Syllable Girl Names With Balance and Beauty // 233 names
Find the perfect rhythm with two syllable girl names. These balanced beauties are some of the best of the best, containing great meanings, cute sounds, and so much more.
-
Mexican Girl Names for Your Hijita // 188 names
With culture, cuteness, and so much more, Mexican girl names have it all. Travel into the heart of Mexico with our collection.
-
Girl Bunny Names for Your Floppy-Eared Friend // 195 names
Do you have a new lady rabbit hopping around and needing a name? Check out our collection of girl bunny names, including food-themed finds, pretty princesses, and so much more.
-
Soft Girl Names That Are Sweet and Serene // 223 names
Soft girl names perfectly suit a little girl ready for life’s adventures. Check out our list of gentle picks, including darling meanings, faraway origins, and so much more.
Siblings of Maya
Mamas with kids named Maya also have kids with these names.
| Name |
Meaning |
Origin |
Popularity |
Other Gender |
|
Ollie
|
Olive tree
|
Latin
|
|
|
|
Mariah
|
Of the sea
|
English
|
|
|
|
Gracelynn
|
Graceful
|
English
|
|
|
|
Logan
|
Small hollow
|
Scottish
|
|
|
