Maya Girl

Popularity: #61 · Trend: ↘ Falling

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: MY-uh /ˈmaɪə/

Origin: Sanskrit; Hebrew; Spanish

Meaning: Sanskrit: illusion; Hebrew: water; Spanish: mine

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Maya has multiple etymological roots, primarily deriving from the Sanskrit word "माया" (māyā), which means "illusion" or "magic." This term is significant in Hindu philosophy, where it denotes the concept of the material world as an illusion. The name has also been linked to the ancient Greek word "μαία" (maia), meaning "nurse" or "mother," which reflects nurturing qualities.

The transition of the name into English can be traced through various cultural exchanges and adaptations, particularly during the colonial period when Sanskrit and Greek influences permeated European languages. Historically, the name Maya has been associated with various cultures and significant figures.

In Hindu mythology, Maya is often personified as a goddess, representing the illusory nature of the world. The name has also been linked to the Mayan civilization, which flourished in Mesoamerica from approximately 250 to 900 CE, where it held cultural and spiritual significance.

The use of the name in literature and religious texts has further solidified its presence across different cultures, including references in the works of notable authors and philosophers throughout the centuries. Culturally, the name Maya resonates with themes of creativity, femininity, and mystique, often embodying the duality of reality and illusion.

It has been embraced in various artistic expressions, including literature and visual arts, where it symbolizes the interplay between the tangible and the ethereal. Additionally, diminutive forms such as Maja or Maia have emerged in different linguistic contexts, reflecting regional adaptations while maintaining the core essence of the name.

Overall, Maya's rich historical and cultural tapestry contributes to its enduring significance across diverse societies.

Famous people named Maya

In this section, you will find notable people named Maya. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Maya who have made a significant impact on popular culture.

We also feature individuals named Maya who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.

Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.

Maya Angelou is a poet and author best known for I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, And Still I Rise, and The Heart of a Woman.

Maya Rudolph is an actress and comedian best known for Saturday Night Live, Bridesmaids, and The Good Place.

Maya Hawke is an actress and model best known for Stranger Things, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, and Do Revenge.

Maya Lin is an artist and architect best known for the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, the Civil Rights Memorial, and the Storm King Wavefield.

Fictional characters named Maya

The following list of fictional characters named Maya is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.

You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.

Maya Fey is a fictional character from the video game series Ace Attorney. She is a spirited medium and the assistant to defense attorney Phoenix Wright.

Sibling suggestions

If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Maya, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.

MilaLilaNinaZaraTaliaSofia

Similar names

Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Maya. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.

MinaMiraMilaMara

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Maya was first seen in the United States in 1940.

Maya has ranked as high as #146 nationally, which occurred in 2006, and has been most popular in California, New York, Texas, Illinois, and Florida.

In the past 5 years the name Maya has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Maya is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Maya was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Maya.

Year Total Births Boy Girl
2025 3,712 0 3,712
2024 4,230 0 4,230
2023 4,092 0 4,092
2022 4,247 0 4,247
2021 4,082 0 4,082
2020 3,752 6 3,746
2019 3,823 0 3,823
2018 3,918 0 3,918
2017 4,046 0 4,046
2016 4,095 5 4,090
2015 4,133 0 4,133
2014 3,957 0 3,957
2013 3,833 7 3,826
2012 3,989 8 3,981
2011 4,032 8 4,024
2010 3,980 9 3,971
2009 4,405 12 4,393
2008 4,279 9 4,270
2007 4,706 5 4,701
2006 5,053 6 5,047
2005 4,440 9 4,431
2004 3,772 5 3,767
2003 3,862 13 3,849
2002 3,550 5 3,545
2001 3,015 5 3,010
2000 3,025 6 3,019
1999 2,862 8 2,854
1998 2,696 9 2,687
1997 1,676 0 1,676
1996 1,452 7 1,445
1995 1,241 0 1,241
1994 1,130 0 1,130
1993 1,021 5 1,016
1992 696 0 696
1991 576 0 576
1990 652 0 652
1989 355 11 344
1988 288 0 288
1987 288 0 288
1986 233 0 233
1985 251 0 251
1984 240 0 240
1983 290 0 290
1982 347 0 347
1981 323 0 323
1980 398 0 398
1979 385 0 385
1978 296 0 296
1977 343 0 343
1976 212 0 212
1975 192 5 187
1974 169 0 169
1973 123 0 123
1972 147 0 147
1971 135 0 135
1970 142 0 142
1969 96 0 96
1968 67 0 67
1967 44 0 44
1966 50 0 50
1965 29 0 29
1964 36 0 36
1963 23 0 23
1962 35 0 35
1961 19 0 19
1960 28 0 28
1959 20 0 20
1958 13 0 13
1957 12 0 12
1956 11 0 11
1955 9 0 9
1954 9 0 9
1953 15 0 15
1952 7 0 7
1951 8 0 8
1950 7 0 7
1949 10 0 10
1943 5 0 5
1942 5 0 5
1940 5 0 5

Top States for Maya (2024)

We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.

State Births Share
CA 710
17%
TX 367
9%
NY 304
7%
FL 277
7%
IL 168
4%
MA 164
4%
NJ 150
4%
PA 143
3%
WA 134
3%
NC 120
3%
VA 117
3%
MI 115
3%
OH 114
3%
GA 100
2%
CO 95
2%
AZ 94
2%
MD 85
2%
CT 74
2%
MN 68
2%
TN 63
1%
IN 59
1%
OR 56
1%
MO 54
1%
WI 52
1%
UT 50
1%
IA 48
1%
NV 41
1%
SC 31
1%
DC 27
1%
KS 25
1%
KY 25
1%
OK 25
1%
NH 25
1%
AL 24
1%
LA 23
1%
RI 18
0%
ID 18
0%
AR 18
0%
NE 16
0%
DE 14
0%
NM 14
0%
HI 14
0%
ME 13
0%
SD 11
0%
AK 11
0%
MS 11
0%
WV 9
0%
VT 8
0%
MT 7
0%
ND 6
0%
WY 5
0%