Maya
Maya is a girl's name of Hebrew origin.
Meaning
Water, illusion, magic, or great.
Origin and history
Maya is a multi-cultural name with roots in several linguistic traditions, including Hebrew, Sanskrit, and Greek. In Sanskrit, it represents illusion or magic, while in Hebrew it is related to the word for water. The name has seen significant growth in popularity in the U.S. since the late 20th century.
Popularity in the United States
123,587 babies in the United States have been named Maya since 1880. It ranks #321 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #53.
States where it is most popular
- CA (18 %)
- NY (8.6 %)
- TX (7.3 %)
- FL (5.3 %)
- IL (5.3 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 0 |
| 1890-1900 | 0 |
| 1900-1910 | 0 |
| 1910-1920 | 0 |
| 1920-1930 | 0 |
| 1930-1940 | 0 |
| 1940-1950 | 25 |
| 1950-1960 | 111 |
| 1960-1970 | 427 |
| 1970-1980 | 2,139 |
| 1980-1990 | 3,002 |
| 1990-2000 | 13,973 |
| 2000-2010 | 40,032 |
| 2010-2019 | 39,769 |
| 2020-2029 | 24,109 |
Famous people named Maya
- Maya Angelou: Poet, Author
- Maya Rudolph: Actress, Comedian
- Maya Lin: Architect, Sculptor
Fun facts
- Maya carries distinct and positive etymological meanings in Sanskrit, Hebrew, Greek, and Japanese.
- Maya has consistently ranked as a top-100 female name in the U.S. throughout the 2000s and 2010s.