The Baby Name Wizard

Reader Contributions

Contribute to, or edit, this collection of community wisdom on the name Maya!

Comments and insights on the name Maya: | Edit

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Personal experiences with the name Maya: | Edit

My own name is Maya and I grew up when it was not a popular name. I find it funny that Maya is a variant of Maia, the name of a Greek fertility goddess, since I went through 8 years of infertility.
The names of my twins are Maya and Wara. Ruben Cabrera (http://rubendcl.blogspot.com/)

Nicknames for Maya: | Edit

Maya Papaya, Missy Maya, Lil M, My My, Maya the Bee, Mayabug, Mee Mee

Meanings and history of the name Maya: | Edit

Maya can also refer to the Mayan people of Central and South America.
Maya means illusion in India.
Maya also means "One" or "The One" in a bolivian language called Aymara.

Famous real-life people named Maya: | Edit

Maya Angelou (American poet & author)
Maya Linn (Artist)
Maya Soetoro, half sister of Barack Obama
Maya Rudolph (comedian/ actress)
Maya Deren, American avant-garde filmmaker
Maya Moore, American basketball forward for the Minnesota Lynx of the WNBA.

Maya in song, story & screen: | Edit

Maya Bennett, character on TV show "Private Practice"
Maya St. Germain, character on TV show "Pretty Little Liars"
Maya and Miguel is a PBS kids' show.
Maya, a witch who turned herself into the first vampire in the Night World series books by L.J. Smith.