Mya

MIE-uh; MEE-uh; MYAH

Variation of Maia, Maya, or Mia, Greek, Scandinavian, Hebrew, Burmese

"mother; larger, greater; bitter, beloved; emerald"

Mya Origin and Meaning

The name Mya is a girl's name of Greek origin meaning "mother; larger, greater; bitter, beloved; emerald".

This distinctive spelling was popularized by the R&B singer Mya (Harrison) and entered the US Top 100 in 2009 after the singer appeared on Dancing with the Stars. While it has since declined in the US, it remains in the Top 100 in France, the Top 200 in Belgium, and the Top 300 in England and Wales.

For such a simple name, it has a variety of origins behind it. On one hand, it could be a variation of Maia, the name of a figure in Greek mythology, associated with nurturing, midwifery, and the cluster of stars known as the Pleiades. In this case, the name means "mother, dame".

On the other hand, it could be linked to the Roman Maia, the embodiment of growth, and linked to the earth and the month of May. From this origin, the name means "larger, greater" from maior, maius.

Another possibility is that the name is used as a variation of Maia or Maja, used in Slavic, Scandinavian, Spanish, Basque, and German speaking countries as a diminutive form of Maria, meaning "bitter" or "beloved". Similarly, it may be used as an alternative spelling of the popular Mia, another Maria short form, though this would change the pronunciation to MEE-uh.

Mya is also used as a Burmese (unisex) name, adapted from the word for "emerald". In this case, the pronunciation is slightly shorter, as the name is said as MYAH.

Other sources indicate that Mya is associated with the indigenous Maya people of Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, and El Salvador, along with the ancient Maya civilization.

Mya Rank in US Top 1000

# 340 in the US

Mya Rank in Nameberry Top 1000

# 1807 on Nameberry

Popularity of the name Mya

• 340 US 2023
• 1807 Nameberry 2025
• 131 Canada 2022
• 208 England 2023
• 185 Scotland 2024
• 52 France 2023

20 Names Similar to Mya

These 20 names were selected by our users that were looking for other names like Mya.

• Kyleigh
• Jada
• Maliyah
• Jayla
• Madelynn
• Aryanna
• Kiana
• Madalyn
• Milania
• Karissa
• Addilyn
• Briella
• Jazmine
• Milani
• Madalynn
• Maleah
• Alayah
• Audriana
• Kaya
• Mikaela

Famous People Named Mya

• Mýa Marie Harrison American R&B singer and actress
• Mya D. Griffin daughter of NFL player Michael Griffin
• Mya Collins (b. 2004) daughter of actress Suzanne Collins
• Mya Rose Griffith (b. 2011) daughter of footballer Anthony Griffith
• Mya Cammalleri (b. 2014) daughter of ice hockey player Michael Cammalleri

The name Mya in Pop Culture

• Mya Stone character in George R. R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire series