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Baby names

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

Original poster

Which name - Anya or Maia?

36 replies

onewoollymammoth · 30/07/2022 20:45

Please help - we have our baby due in two weeks and still can't decide which name to choose!

I liked Anya (Pronounced Ann-ya) as it seems underused and is sweet and short yet still a bit exotic, but Maia (pronounced My-a) has always been on my list because it has some beautiful meanings and is soft and sweet but seems to have got very popular lately, and I'm worried about it being misspelt and mispronounced a lot which I don't want my daughter to constantly have problems with.

Overall I wanted a short, sweet, pretty name, not too common, easy to say and spell and with a beautiful meaning.

Which do you think is the nicest name overall and why?

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DramaAlpaca · 30/07/2022 23:03

I much prefer Anya.

PancakesWithCheese · 30/07/2022 22:49

Anya, I love this name. I don’t like Maia at all, but also it’s really popular (in whichever spelling), I feel like I hear it a lot so Anya would be a nice change.

CharlotteOH · 30/07/2022 22:45

Both lovely, my preference is for Anya.

Just going to throw these out there too
Ayla
Alys

Fivebeanchilli · 30/07/2022 22:34

I love Maia and would pronounce it the same as you - but I do think a lot of people wouldn't.
Anya is beautiful and there are fewer issues with it (though I think quite a few would say Ahn - ya).
I would pick Anya.

Moby715 · 30/07/2022 21:59

Anya for me. It’s beautiful.

I like Maia also but have only know people with this spelling pronounce it may-a.

for your preferred pronunciation I’d go for Mya as the spelling.

Original poster
onewoollymammoth · 30/07/2022 21:13

Thanks for the suggestions. Anya seems to be the preferred option so far

OP posts:
Whatever00 · 30/07/2022 20:54

I like Anya. It's easy to say and spell. I also like Amaya.

Titsflyingsouth · 30/07/2022 20:52

Anya is lovely

KylieCharlene · 30/07/2022 20:50

Anya is beautiful.
Maia has issues with pronunciation and spelling.

(I also love Ananya)

Topsy1976 · 30/07/2022 20:48

Anya is lovely - more unusual and easier to pronounce IMO! Congrats on your baby.

LunaLemon · 30/07/2022 20:47

If you spell it Maia it will definitely be misspelt tbh. I’d spell it Maya if you go for that.

Prefer Anya though

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