How to pronounce Maya / Maia

34 replies

JassyRadlett · 29/08/2014 12:18

I'm Australian. DH is English.

Discussing this, we realised we pronounce Maya differently. I've never heard it in Australia/the US as anything but 'My-uh'. DH defaults to May-uh.

We both pronounce Maia to rhyme with Gaia: 'My-uh'.

So, what's standard in Britain for each? Don't want to give any potential child a name that's not useable in both countries.

And how to you pronounce the name of the Mayan people?

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aubreye · 29/08/2014 14:37

Maya is My-ah and Maia is My-ah but I've heard it as May-ah sometimes

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JassyRadlett · 29/08/2014 14:33

Thanks all, v helpful. As you say, too much variation!

Not keen on Mia really - and too many among immediate friends anyway. Very different sound to my ears.

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AnnieLobeseder · 29/08/2014 14:14

My DD is Maya, pronounced My-uh, but she gets called May-uh all the time (and even Mia occasionally) and it drives her mad. A former boss also had a daughter called Maya and they pronounced it May-uh. So I think both pronunciations are used in this country, so if you use it, be prepared for some ambiguity.

Letthemtalk · 29/08/2014 14:06

my- ah

mildmaygrovenorth · 29/08/2014 14:05

A friend's Maia is pronounced My-ah

zingally · 29/08/2014 13:13

I only know it as My-ah.

1morecupofcoffee · 29/08/2014 12:35

I think most people would pronounce both Maya and Maia as My-uh/My-ah depending on accent (not May-uh/May-ah), and I'm pretty sure that My-uh/My-ah is how the name of the people is supposed to be pronounced too.

Purpleroxy · 29/08/2014 12:23

Maya is usually My-ah IME but I do know one who uses May-ah. I wouldn't use the name if you are concerned about pronounciation issues. It has variants even just in this country. And it will be misspelled. One Maya I know regularly gets it written as Mya.

You could use Mia (mee-ah) if you want less ambiguity.

WanderingTrolley1 · 29/08/2014 12:23

May-a or My-a.

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