Maya Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
The name Maya originates from the Sanskrit word meaning 'illusion' or 'magic', reflecting deep philosophical concepts. It has evolved through various languages and cultures, retaining its mystical connotation. The name is associated with creativity and strength, has no biblical relevance, and is popular due to its modern and multicultural appeal.
The name Maya is most popular in Nevada, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Girl name among the Generation Alpha generation in the Northeast region. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is gaining popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Maya has been too falling for female in MidWest, too falling for female in Northeast, stalled for male in South, too falling for female in South, too falling for female in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for male in South, too falling for female in South, too falling for female in West. Across generations, 'Maya' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 10718th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 11250th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 8451st out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 17079th out of 23106 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 7328th out of 9204 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 3170th out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 799th out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 421st out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 87th out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 54th out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Maya' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Maya"
Pronunciation
/ˈmaɪə/
Origin
Sanskrit
Etymology
The name Maya is derived from the Sanskrit word 'māyā', which means 'illusion' or 'magic'. In Hindu philosophy, it refers to the concept of the illusion that the material world is separate from the spiritual one.
Meaning
Illusion, magic
Language Evolution
Sanskrit: माया (māyā), Pali: माया (māyā), Latin: Maja, Spanish: Maya
Historical Usage
The name Maya gained popularity in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, particularly in Western cultures, as interest in Eastern philosophies and religions grew.
Variants & Derivatives
Maja, Maia, Maya Angelou
Modern Popularity & Image
In contemporary times, Maya is perceived as a modern and multicultural name, often associated with creativity, spirituality, and strength. It has become popular in various cultures worldwide.
Famous People
Maya Angelou, Maya Rudolph, Maya Hawke
Explore More Maya Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Maya"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Maya"
"Maya" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 10718th of 10718 | 5 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 11250th of 16616 | 23 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 8451st of 24088 | 117 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 17079th of 23106 | 18 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 7328th of 9204 | 15 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 3170th of 12526 | 263 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 799th of 19264 | 2,823 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 421st of 27321 | 9,360 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 87th of 35406 | 59,218 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 54th of 30306 | 48,160 |
Regional Popularity of "Maya" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - |
62.19% 3230th/5194 |
- |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
Regional Popularity of "Maya" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- |
78.19% 1900th/2430 |
- |
55.96% 1553rd/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
28.43% 835th/2937 |
20.87% 727th/3483 |
29.02% 1021st/3518 |
14.54% 588th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
12.92% 476th/3685 |
8.29% 371st/4475 |
8.14% 423rd/5194 |
6.65% 420th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
2.05% 94th/4582 |
1.22% 63rd/5164 |
1.64% 120th/7313 |
0.83% 62nd/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
1.96% 78th/3984 |
0.85% 38th/4487 |
1.28% 87th/6822 |
0.61% 38th/6276 |
State-by-State Popularity of "Maya"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Maya" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.