Maya
Meaning: not confirmed (origin debated)
About the name Maya
The origin of Maya is debated, and we couldn't confirm its meaning from a sourced etymology. A commonly cited theory links it to Sanskrit roots, with the meaning “Illusion; also linked to Hebrew "water"”. Treat that as a theory, not a settled fact.
Why we say this: we only state a meaning as fact when a sourced etymology (Wiktionary, with its references) supports it. For Maya we didn't find one we were confident in, so we show the popular explanation as a theory.
It has a classic, short & sweet feel. In 2025, Maya ranked #62 for girls in the US, with 3,712 babies given the name. Its peak year since 1940 was 2006. Since 2000, 100% of US babies named Maya were girls.
- US rank 2025
- #62
- In 2015
- #68
- Babies in 2025
- 3,712
Popularity of Maya, 1940–2025
Latest SSA data: 2025.
Popularity data: U.S. Social Security Administration national baby names (public domain; names given to at least 5 babies of one sex per year).
Nicknames for Maya
Maya is already short and sweet, so it doesn't usually get a nickname.
Names similar to Maya
Name meanings marked or linked “Wiktionary” are adapted from Wiktionary by Wiktionary contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; each name page links its source entry.