User-created list
Alternatives To Maya
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Maja
German, Slovene, and Scandinavian form of Maya; also, Arabic
"splendid"
Whether you pronounce it my-a, ma-zha or ma-ha, Maja is an intriguing choice. Sometimes associated with Goya's famous painting "The Naked Maja." As a cognate of Maya, it's a Top 10 name in Slovenia…
May
Diminutive of Margaret and Mary; month name
May is a sweet old-fashioned name that hasn't been on the national charts in several decades, but is definitely sounding fresh and springlike. Parents are beginning to see it once more as one of the…
Mayan
Variation of Maayan, Hebrew
"spring of water"
Unless you're making an intentional homage to the Maya civilization, the traditional spelling Maayan will prove less confusing.
Miya
Variation of Mia or Maya; Japanese
"palace, shrine, temple"
Is it pronounced MEE-ah or MY-ah? Only the bearer knows for sure, which is one of the central problems with this hybrid name. Miya is also a Japanese name that comes from the word meaning "palace" or…
Miyu
Japanese
"beautfiul evening"
Short and sweet alternative to Mia, Mila, Maya, et al.
Moira
Irish, variation of Mary
"bitter; beloved; drop of the sea"
Well-established Irish and Scottish name that has never really caught on across the pond. Remembered by an older generation as the beautiful red-haired ballerina in the film The Red Shoes , Moira…
Raia
Spelling variation of Raya
The popularity of Maya clarifies the pronunciation of Raya, which makes that the better spelling of this name.
Taya
Japanese
"young"
Taya has recently jumped into the mainstream name pool, perhaps because of kinship with Maya and Kaya. After five years outside the US Top 1000, it reentered in 2015. Taya Smith is an Australian…
Zaya
Arabic, Mongolian, American
"honest; fate, destiny"
Zaya, which rhymes with Maya, came to attention as the name of basketball great Dwyane Wade's older daughter, the stepdaughter of actress Gabrielle Union. It's one of those names that hits the sweet…
Bria
Diminutive of Briana or Gabriella
"hill, high; God is my strong man"
Sweet and sparky but maybe a little bit stuck in the 90s for some, Bria is a nickname-y style choice with various origins. Unheard of until the 1970s, Bria only started to see substantial use in the…
Adaya
Adaya is a feminine name with multiple cultural origins. In Hebrew, it means 'ornament of God' or 'God has adorned,' derived from 'adah' (to adorn) and 'Yah' (God). It appears in the Old Testament as…
Baya
Arabic, Spanish
"lady; berry"
Bright, friendly, and multicultural, Baya is both an Arabic title-name meaning "lady" and a Spanish word name, with the sweet meaning of "berry". Most of its real world usage is owing to its Arabic…
Enaya
Enaya is a feminine name of Arabic origin meaning 'care,' 'concern,' or 'providence.' The name embodies the concepts of attentiveness and nurturing, making it a meaningful choice for parents seeking…
Elaya
Variation of Elijah, Leah, or Elaia, Hebrew, Basque
"my God is Yahweh; weary; swallow (bird)"
Elaya combines the elements of several popular choices including Maya, Elara, Elora, Alaia, Elijah, Eliana, and Aliyah. Pronounced as either eh-LAY-uh or eh-LYE-uh, it may be considered a variation…
Hiraya
Tagalog
"imagination"
Dreamy name occasionally used in the Philippines. The fashionable "raya" sound may garner some more attention for Hiraya.
Haya
Hebrew or Japanese
"life; universal feathers"
Appealing crosscultural choice.
Oona
Irish, variation of Una
"lamb"
Oona is a name made famous by Eugene O'Neill's daughter, who became Charlie Chaplin's wife. One of the original Oona's granddaughters was named after her, and is now an actress famous in her own…
Orla
Irish
"golden princess"
Orla is an Irish name closely associated with the high king Brian Boru, as it was the name of his sister, daughter and niece. It was very popular in the Middle Ages – the fourth most popular name in…
Una
Latin, Irish, or Old Norse
"one; lamb; happy"
In an epic poem, the personification of truth, beauty, and unity; this ancient name is popular in several European countries but less common in the US. The Oona spelling is slightly more popular but…
Ondraya
Ondraya is a feminine name with Slavic origins, likely a feminine variant of the masculine name Ondrej or Andrei, which ultimately derives from the Greek name Andreas meaning 'manly' or 'brave.' The…