Maya is a feminine name in various languages with various meanings.
In the ancient Indian language Sanskrit, Māyā means "the illusory nature of reality or the illusion of creation", and is an alternate name of the Hindu goddess Lakshmi.lakṣmī , Monier-Williams' Sanskrit–English Dictionary, University of Washington Archives
In the Tupi language, of southern Brazil, it means "mother", while Mayara means "grandmother".Entry "Maya" at Dicionario de nomes proprios. In the Māori language, the name means "courage" or "bravery",Entry in the Maori dictionary online. and is popular for Māori girls in New Zealand.Most popular Maori baby names for 2012 The name may be a variant form of the Greek theonym Maia (Μαῖα in Ancient Greek), the eldest of the Pleiades and the mother of Hermes in Greek and Roman mythology.
Variously spelled Maia or Maja it can also be used as a short form of Maria or Mary in Christian culture such as Germany, the Scandinavian countries, and various East European and Balkan countries. Maya is also used as a short form for the name Amalia or the Basque name Amaia or Amaya (meaning "the end") in Spanish-speaking countries.
Another variant of Maya is the Arabic name Mayya (مية) which comes from may (مي) which means either "good servant," "pretty woman," or "water." It was also a popular name among medieval Arab women, notably Mayya Bint Muqatil, the lover of the Arab poet Dhul-Rumma
In Hebrew Maya can be derived from the word mayim (מים), which means "water."
Maya is also a Japanese given name, with different meanings depending on the kanji used.
Popularity All variants of the name are well-used in the English-speaking world and other countries. Maya has ranked among the one thousand most popular names for girls in the United States since 1970 and among the top one hundred most popular names for American girls since 2002. Spelling variant Maia has ranked among the top one thousand names for American girls since 1996. In 2022, it was the 21st most popular name given to girls in Canada.
Women A–C
D-H
I–M
N–R
S–Z
Men Maya (High Priest of Amun), a High Priest of Amun until at least year four of Akhenaten Maya (Treasurer) (13th century BC), the treasurer to Pharaohs Tutankhamun, Ay, and Horemheb of Egypt Maya (musician) (born 1979), vocalist of Japanese visual kei band LM. Maya Dolas (1966–1991), Indian gangster Maya Ranjan (1913–1968), Sinhala writer and schoolteacher from Sri Lanka Maya Singh Saini, Indian freedom fighter Maya Thevar (1934–2022), Indian politician Maya Yoshida (born 1988), Japanese professional footballer Notable animals named Maya Maya (wolf), a cloned Arctic wolf
Fictional characters named Maya Maya (comics), an Indian DC Comics super-heroine Maya (Ninjago), A main character's mother in Ninjago Maya, the alter ego of the Marvel Comics superhero Paragon Maya, the original name given to Aelita in the French animated TV series Code Lyoko Maya (Azumanga Daioh), a minor character in the shōnen manga Azumanga Daioh Maya (Is the Order a Rabbit?), a character in the manga series Is the Order a Rabbit? Maya, one of the main characters in the Redakai: Conquer the Kairu franchise Maya, one of the main characters in Hiroki Endo's manga series Eden: It's an Endless World! Maya, fictional CIA intelligence analyst who tracked down Osama bin Laden from the film Zero Dark Thirty Maya Aida, a.k.a. Mana Aida, protagonist of Glitter Force Doki Doki/DokiDoki! Pretty Cure Maya the Bee, the main character of the 1912 German children's book The Adventures of Maya the Bee and its various adaptions Maya Blart, character and daughter of the titular character in Paul Blart: Mall Cop and its sequel Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2 Maya Dolittle, character in the Dr. Dolittle films Maya Hansen (character), a character in the Marvel Comics universe Fuuga no Maya, a character in Saint Beast Maya Kennedy, minor character in Futari wa Pretty Cure (originally named Mayu Kashiwada) Maya Leibowitz-Jenkins, recurring character in The Proud Family revival Louder and Prouder Maya Lopez, the Marvel Comics character known as Echo Maya Ibuki, a minor character in the Neon Genesis Evangelion franchise Maya Markowitz, a character in Raquel Palacio's Wonder Maya McStuffins, a character in the animated series Doc McStuffins Maya Santos, a character from the children's animated series Maya & Miguel Maya St. Germain, a secondary character in the Pretty Little Liars series of young-adult novels Maya Tendo, one of the main characters from the Shojo Kageki Revue Starlight franchise Maya Yamato, drummer of the band Pastel＊Palettes from the BanG Dream! franchise Maya Yamada, a character from the light novel series Infinite Stratos Maya the Harp Fairy, a character in the Rainbow Magic novel series
Live action TV Maya Mehrotra/Maya Arjun Sharma, the lead character from the Sony Entertainment Television India drama series, Beyhadh Maya (Power Rangers), the Yellow Ranger in Power Rangers: Lost Galaxy Maya, an alien character on the television series Space: 1999 Maya the Magnificent, the title elephant of the 1966 film and 1967 TV series Maya Maya, a minor character in Battlestar Galactica Maya Avant, a character from The Bold and the Beautiful Maya Bennett, a recurring character in the Disney Channel series The Suite Life on Deck Maya Chinn, a character from the American daytime soap opera Passions Maya Fisher, a character from the HBO TV show Six Feet Under Maya Gallo, a character in the NBC sitcom Just Shoot Me Maya Hart, a character in the Disney Channel show Girl Meets World Maya Herrera, a character in the NBC drama series Heroes Maya Matlin, a character in the teen drama Degrassi: The Next Generation Maya dela Rosa-Lim, a character in ABS-CBN drama series Be Careful with My Heart Maya Wilkes, a character from the American sitcom Girlfriends Maya Young, a character in the television series Kamen Rider: Dragon Knight
Video games Maya, a character from video game Killer Instinct 2 Maya, one of the six playable characters in the video game Borderlands 2 Maya, a minor antagonist in Minecraft Story Mode Maya Amano, a character from Persona 2: Innocent Sin Maya Do'Urden, a sister of Drizzt Do'Urden in Forgotten Realms Maya Fey, a secondary character in the Ace Attorney franchise. Maya Ocean, one of the four pre-made mermaids in The Sims 3: Island Paradise Maya Torres, one of the playable characters in State of Decay
See also Maia (name) Maja (given name) Mia (given name) Mya (given name)
Notes