Maya
[ˈmaɪə]Meaning
Sanskrit for "illusion, magic"; also a variant of Maia and a Hebrew-derived name from mayim, "water"
Background Story
Behind the Name gives three origins: from Sanskrit maya, meaning "illusion, magic", in which tradition it is the name of the Buddha's mother and another name of the goddess Durga; as a variant of Maia; and from Hebrew mayim, "water". It is also given in reference to the Maya, an indigenous people of southern Mexico and parts of Central America, and was borne by the American poet and author Maya Angelou. The name is used in Croatian, Danish, French, Georgian, German, Greek and Roman mythology, Hungarian, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese and Serbian.
Temperament
Related Names
Maja
Megi
Albanian and Georgian form of Maggie
Mila
From the Slavic element milŭ, meaning "gracious, dear"
Mina
A name of various origins, often meaning 'love' or 'precious' in different cultures.
Adya
Given name in India for boys and girls; Russian diminutive of Avdey and Avdiky
Aoife
From Old Irish Aífe, from óiph, meaning "beauty" (modern Irish aoibh)
Arja
Variant of Irja, apparently coined for early 20th century poems
Arna
Icelandic and Norwegian feminine form of Arne
Asha
From Sanskrit āśā, "wish, desire, hope"; also from Swahili ishi, "live, exist"
Ayda
Means "returning, visitor" in Arabic; in Turkey also associated with ay, "moon"