User-created list
By MiaLen · Updated February 2024
Across 5 pages
of 5
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.
Arabic, Persian
"the Pleiades"
Variant of rising star Soraya, with that cool Z initial.
Invented name
This modern invention sounds a lot more common than it actually is due to its similarities to hot names such as Amaya, Maya, and James.
A flinty mineral name that puts a feminine spin on Micah, or short form of the biblical Michal.
Tagalog
"imagination"
Dreamy name occasionally used in the Philippines. The fashionable "raya" sound may garner some more attention for Hiraya.
Mahlia is a feminine name with multiple potential origins. It may be a variation of Mahalia, which has Hebrew roots meaning 'tenderness' or could connect to the Arabic 'Mahla' meaning 'beautiful…
Manya is a feminine name with diverse cultural roots. It originated as a diminutive form of Maria in Russian and Eastern European usage, but also appears as a variant of the Hebrew name Manya meaning…
German variation of Magdalen
On "Sex and the City," Magda was the elderly nanny from the old country -- which is what this name sounds like. While Magdalene and Magdalena are enjoying fresh life, Magda still feels dated.
Sanskrit
"necklace, garland"
Mala is one of those names that's both simple and striking, easy to pronounce yet unfamiliar to many English speakers.
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…
Japanese
"beautfiul evening"
Short and sweet alternative to Mia, Mila, Maya, et al.
Hebrew
According to the Bible (and Quran), manna was the foodstuff miraculously provided for the Israelites in exile. This nourishing little name is one of the spiritual names that has seen a slight rise in…
Literary name, Greek
"angel"
If you want to move beyond Maya, you might consider this distinctive last name of poet Maya Angelou. Born Marguerite Annie Johnson, Angelou was given the nickname Maya by her brother and adopted…
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…
Mada is a concise feminine name with multiple potential origins. It may derive from Hebrew meaning 'knowledge' or could be a shortened form of names like Magdalena. In Romanian, Mada can be a…
Macia is a feminine name with Latin and Spanish origins, possibly derived from names like Macia (a variant of Matthew, meaning 'gift of God') or related to Macia as a surname. In some contexts, it…
Georgian, Lakota
"earth"
Georgian diminutive for names starting with Ma-, such as Margalita or Mariam. Notable bearers of this name include the former First Lady Maka Chichua and writer Maka Jokhadze. Maka is also a Lakota…
Greek
"slender, delicate"
Your zany neighbor, the one who's a potter and has five cats.
Manca is a feminine name with Slavic origins, particularly common in Slovenia and some parts of Italy (especially northern regions). In Slovenian, the name is derived from the word for 'lesser' or…
Irish variation of Máire or Mary, Spanish place name, Zulu, Sotho, Lala
"beloved, bitter; estate of Modius, estate of measure; spirit, wind"
A multicultural choice with a distinctive sound, Moya may appeal as a unique alternative to Maia/Maya or Mia. Given to a handful of girls each year in the US, it is more commonly heard in the UK or…
