Message: "Maia or Maya - if the pronunciation wasn't an issue? Plus which meanings do you like? (more)"

[Opinions] Maia or Maya - if the pronunciation wasn't an issue? Plus which meanings do you like? (more)

by Perrine (Destry)

6/5/2021, 5:22 AM

Where I live Maia and Maya are pronounced exactly the same (MAH-ya) so pronunciation wouldn't be an issue.

Which one would you choose and why?

and which meaning do you like best? Would the meaning influence your choice?

Maya - Hebrew "water"
Maya - Sanskrit, Hindi, Marathi "illusion"
Maya - English "from the name of the Maya"

Maia - Greek, Roman "good mother" and the name of a constellation
Maia - Roman mythology "greater", goddess of spring
Maia - form of Maria (Maria's meaning is unknown but most like "beloved")

So do the different meanings influence your choice? And what do you think the nicest meaning for each of them is?

Please rate my list: https://www.behindthename.com/pnl/6232

#pronunciation

Replies

- Pink Princess

6/5/2021, 6:42 PM

Maya with the Hebrew meaning is my fave. Here in Australia, both versions of the name are more often than not pronounced MY-ah. I’m going out on a limb here and I’m going to say I actually prefer to pronounce Maya as MAY-ah. I know, I know, but it just sounds nicer to me.

- ari.

6/5/2021, 3:08 PM

Maia looks cleaner and lighter. "Illusion" is my favourite meaning, but it wouldn't influence my decision, since I don't have a lot of connection to Indian culture (and it's a transcription anyway, so Maia could work too). When I think Maia, I think of the goddess of Spring - a very positive association.

- mirfak

6/5/2021, 2:46 PM

Definitely Maia. It looks prettier, and seems more likely to be pronounced right.
Better meanings IMO too, not that I care that much. But I associate Maya with the Mayans, and also with the "illusion" meaning, which isn't very namey IMO.

- Kerilyntaryn21

6/5/2021, 12:37 PM

I like the spelling Maya, meaning beloved

- Dianatiger +2

6/5/2021, 12:35 PM

in my particular dialect my first instinct would be to pronounce both as "My-ah". For Maia I may secondarily guess "May-ah" if I was told I was incorrect with no context. Then after that I would guess it as a rhyming pronunciation of Gaia (so to me Ma-EE-ah). I personally prefer Maya over Maia imo due to the perceived more straight-forwardness of the pronunciation.

This message was edited 6/5/2021, 12:38 PM

- Perrine (Destry) +1

6/5/2021, 12:38 PM

Me too (MY-ah).

Which one do you prefer?

- Dianatiger

6/5/2021, 2:32 PM

I think I prefer Maya in general for me personally

This message was edited 6/5/2021, 2:33 PM

- MasterCiaraXo (ciara23)

6/5/2021, 7:58 AM

Maia ❤️

I love that name. To me at least it looks more aesthetically pleasing than Maya. The etymology of Maia is so great and wonderful. :)

- sambchop

6/5/2021, 7:12 AM

I do prefer Maia because of the connection to spring. However, I personally have an association with someone whose last name is Maia, and for that reason, I would avoid this name. But in a perfect world, I might use Maia. It is a pretty name.

- Katiuscia (OnyxMoon)

6/5/2021, 6:48 AM

Maia and not really, I'm just tired of Maya spelled that way. The association with the constellation and goddess, and being an old Roman name, are much cooler is all.

- Mary R.

6/5/2021, 6:21 AM

Maia ☆

Personally, I like both variants: Maya and Maia. (I also pronounce them MAH-ya).

But for now it's definitely Maia: it seems neat, I like how it looks on paper.
Moreover, I do love mythology and I also love that it's space related. Goddess of spring, a star ☆ in the constellation -- a perfect combo!

- WinterWonderland +3

6/5/2021, 5:46 AM

Maia

I favor the look of Maia. And I like the "good mother" meaning.

Wouldn't Maria have the same meaning as Mary?

- Perrine (Destry) +2

6/5/2021, 6:11 AM

Yes. The most likely meaning for Mary is "beloved".

From this site:

However it was most likely originally an Egyptian name, perhaps derived in part from mry "beloved" or mr "love".

- WinterWonderland (guest) +1

6/5/2021, 6:18 AM

Gotcha. I think I've mostly seen the "sea of bitterness" as a possible meaning. But beloved is also possible. And happier.

- Perrine (Destry)

6/5/2021, 6:27 AM

Yes, me too. I think most people remember that meaning because the more likely one of "beloved" was put at the bottom. Yes, it is much better :)

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