MAYA  

Gender: F
Origin: Greek mythology name; Central American Indian empire name; Latinate variation of MAY; Spanish, diminutive of AMALIA

Popularity in 2008: #72

A bourgeois-bohemian favorite, chosen by Uma Thurman and Ethan Hawke for their daughter, with an exotic, almost mystical image.

Variations:
Maiya, Mayi, Maiah, Maia, Maaja, Moja, Myah, May, Mayja, Mya, Moia, Maie, Moya

International Variations:
Maj, Maja (Scandinavian) Mayanita (Spanish)

Maya is being discussed in our message boards:

• Wisconsin Birth Announcements
• Names in Your Child's Class/Daycare/Playgroup
• A twin name that will go with Tennille
• Popular names you just don't 'get'.
• Please help- M girl names!

Read Nameberry blog posts about Maya:

• HEROINE NAMES: Worthy Women with Notable Names, Part 2: Cultural Icons
• GOODBYE GIRLS' (NAMES)
• THE MAGIC OF MAYA
• EXOTIC LITE: Girls' Edition
• MIDDLE NAMES: The Strange, The Ordinary, and The Embarrassing