Maya
How to say it: MY-uh · /ˈmaɪə/
From Sanskrit meaning 'illusion' or 'magic'; also a Hebrew variant of Maia meaning 'water' or 'spring'.
Maya was the 61st most popular girls’ name in the United States in 2025, given to 3,712 babies (Social Security Administration). The 2020s are its busiest decade so far, its births are down about 9% in ten years, and it is projected to rise to #59 by 2030.
Updated · SSA 2025 data, published May 2026 · Insee 2025 data, published July 2026 · How we compute these figures
Key facts
| Rank among girls’ names, 2025 | #61 |
|---|---|
| Babies born in 2025 | 3,712 |
| Share of births | 1 in 726 |
| Peak decade | 2020s |
| Change over 10 years | −9% |
| Projected rank for 2030 (estimate) | #59 |
| In France, 2025 | #53 among girls’ names, 635 births |
Sources: Social Security Administration (SSA), Insee (France). How we compute these figures.
Its life, decade by decade
Maya keeps climbing and has reached its fullest use in the 2020s. At its peak now, it is likely to rise further.
What goes with it
Gentle and soft, it moves lightly in two syllables with literary roots and echoes from mythology. Mila makes a natural companion.
Middle names that flow with Maya →
Nicknames
- May
Honouring a Maya in the family
In the classroom
In a class of 25 children born in 2025, the chance that another child is called Maya is about 1 in 31.
Around the world
This spelling is used in Arabic, Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Swedish, Turkish.
In France: #53 for girls in 2025.
England and Wales: #28. Ireland: #40.
Famous people named Maya
- Maya Angelou (1928–2014)American poet, author, and civil rights activist
- Maya Hawke (born 1998)American actress and singer-songwriter
- Maya Rudolph (born 1972)American actress and comedian
From Wikidata and Wikipedia
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