Names › Girls' names › M › Maya

Maya

Meaning: 'illusion' in Sanskrit; also from the Greek Maia · Origin: several origins · Gender: usually a girl's name

Origin & history

Maya has independent roots in several languages: Sanskrit maya ('illusion'), the Greek and Roman goddess Maia, and Hebrew. It also recalls the Maya civilisation.

Famous people named Maya

Maya Angelou (poet)
Maya Rudolph (actor)

Nicknames

May

Variants & related names

Maia, Mya, Maja

Maya name art

A free preview of a printable “Maya” poster with its meaning — great for a nursery, a birthday or a gift.

Instant download, no subscription. Not printed or shipped — you get a high-resolution PNG to print at home or at a print shop.

FAQ

What does the name Maya mean?

Maya means “'illusion' in Sanskrit; also from the Greek Maia”. It comes from several origins.

Is Maya a popular name?

Yes — Maya has been one of the most popular girls' names in the United States in the 2020s, according to US Social Security Administration baby-name data.

What are nicknames for Maya?

May.

What are other forms of Maya?

Maia, Mya, Maja.

Similar names

Lena · Amara · Nina · Mia · Mila · Madison

More: names starting with M · all girls' names

Sources: standard name etymology references (e.g. Behind the Name, Oxford Dictionary of First Names); popularity from US SSA and UK ONS baby-name data. Meanings of old names are often debated — where scholars disagree we say so.