Maya
Gender: Girl
Meaning: Water; illusion; great; mother
Origin: Multiple origins — Hebrew (water, from Mayim), Sanskrit (illusion, magic), Greek (mother, great), and Latin
Popularity: Ranked #62 in 2025 with 3,712 babies born.
History: Maya is one of the most beautifully multicultural names in existence — it carries meaning in Hebrew, Sanskrit, Greek, and indigenous American traditions simultaneously. In Hinduism and Buddhism, Maya represents the illusion of the material world. In Greek myth, Maia was a Pleiad star and mother of Hermes. Maya Angelou — poet, memoirist, and civil rights activist — is its greatest modern bearer, giving the name a powerful association with voice, dignity, and artistic courage. It entered the U.S. top 100 in the 1990s and has been climbing ever since.
Famous people named Maya: Maya Angelou (poet), Maya Rudolph (actress), Maya Hawke (actress)
Name length: 4 letters
How common is Maya? About 1 in 897 babies born in 2025 were named Maya, or roughly 10.2 per day in the United States.
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Frequently asked about Maya
What does the name Maya mean?
Maya means “Water; illusion; great; mother” from Multiple origins — Hebrew (water, from Mayim), Sanskrit (illusion, magic), Greek (mother, great), and Latin roots.
What is the origin of the name Maya?
Maya has Multiple origins — Hebrew (water, from Mayim), Sanskrit (illusion, magic), Greek (mother, great), and Latin origin. The traditional meaning is “Water; illusion; great; mother”.
How popular is Maya?
Maya ranked #62 in 2025 — given to 3,712 babies that year.
When was Maya most popular?
Maya peaked in 2006 with 5,047 babies registered that year.
Is Maya a boy or girl name?
Maya is predominantly a girls' name — over 90% of Mayas in registered births are female.
How long has Maya been recorded?
Maya appears in birth records across 80 years — from 1940 through 2025.