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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

Girl name - Maya

41 replies

sunkiss · 09/05/2021 17:36

What is your opinion on this name and how would you pronounce it?

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VAM24 · 11/05/2021 16:58

My baby girl is Maya, pronounced My-a (like the Mayan civilisation / Maya Angelou)

Have had to correct a couple of people but we love it 😊

Original poster
sunkiss · 11/05/2021 16:50

I’m hoping it’s just one of those names once you have corrected people once they will remember the pronunciation but I’m still not sure if it will be too much of a burden

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queenatom · 11/05/2021 14:34

I love it and it's on our list. We'd pronounce it My-a (like Maya Angelou and Maya Rudolph) but I can see the argument for pronouncing it the other way.

drpet49 · 11/05/2021 06:49

May-a

ingeborg3 · 11/05/2021 05:30

Love it!

MercyBodle · 11/05/2021 05:27

I don't mind it, and like both pronunciations. I know Mayas and Maias pronounced My-ah, and a Maya pronounced May- ah. As long as you're aware that she'll get various pronunciations, and may seem confusing amongst all the Maya, Mya and Mias, then it's fine.

Ollinica · 11/05/2021 02:18

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Amdone123 · 10/05/2021 20:32

I like it pronounced May - a.
Also love May.

Paperreceipt · 10/05/2021 20:31

I can't fathom how anybody would pronounce it My-a.

Because that’s how Maya Angelou’s name was pronounced?

Original poster
sunkiss · 10/05/2021 20:28

Ohh I’ve not come across that spelling before. Thanks everyone, nice to see some lovely replies

OP posts:
Minster2012 · 10/05/2021 19:53

I have a cousin Maier which I don't think you can pronounce wrong

Girlname · 10/05/2021 18:49

I really like it. It's a potential name for our little girl. My only reservation is that it clearly had two pronunciations (we'd be saying 'my-ah') and whether that would be annoying for us and more importantly for her.

PattyPan · 10/05/2021 11:48

I pronounce it My-a like the Maya people. Not a fan personally.

ThatIsMyPotato · 10/05/2021 11:46

I think as long as you are ok with it being pronounced differently to how you want then go for it.

Jannetra17 · 10/05/2021 11:27

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TokenGinger · 10/05/2021 09:11

[quote ILoveStickers]@TokenGinger Well, Maya like the Maya civilization, I suppose. And the Mayan language. Those are always pronounced "My-a".

The Maya I know is My-a, but she is Indian. It's a concept from Hinduism I think, in her case? So it is a word with a particular pronunciation in another language.

I think both pronunciations are equally used in the UK. Both are nice![/quote]
Ah, that makes sense. Thank you for explaining. I love to learn things like that. My son has a Nigerian name and it isn't pronounced how it looks. It's good to understand how things may be pronounced differently in other cultures so I can be more aware if ever using those names.

Thank you x

partyatthepalace · 09/05/2021 23:05

Dull, undistinguished and overused.

Gets pronounced My-ah, Mee-ah and May-ah, which would be annoying and is another reason not to use it.

Tillygetsit · 09/05/2021 22:50

My dainty pretty girl dog is Maya. Suits her and I obviously love her and the name.
She is a May-a.

ILoveStickers · 09/05/2021 21:34

@TokenGinger Well, Maya like the Maya civilization, I suppose. And the Mayan language. Those are always pronounced "My-a".

The Maya I know is My-a, but she is Indian. It's a concept from Hinduism I think, in her case? So it is a word with a particular pronunciation in another language.

I think both pronunciations are equally used in the UK. Both are nice!

Talkwhilstyouwalk · 09/05/2021 21:20

We know a Myla.....quite like that too!

TokenGinger · 09/05/2021 20:40

I'd pronounced it May-a, too. I can't fathom how anybody would pronounce it My-a. I don't think know any word that has "ay" and it's pronounced just with the "y" (I may well be wrong).

I know somebody who spelt their daughter's Maiya to avoid the mispronunciation.

Marlena1 · 09/05/2021 20:34

I love this and wish I'd thought of it for my first.

BettyOBarley · 09/05/2021 20:29

I really like it!

I would also pronounce it My-a.
I'd pronounce Maia as My-a as well though!

Original poster
sunkiss · 09/05/2021 20:20

Oh I’ve never heard of it pronounced me-a before, I assumed that was Mia

OP posts:
Frogsonglue · 09/05/2021 20:07

I know a Maya pronounced Mya but lots of people pronounce it Me-a...