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Baby names

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

Original poster

Spelling help needed!

81 replies

AlpacaMeBags · 01/03/2023 04:00

DD is nearly 3 weeks old. We've decided on a name for her but can't make a decision about spelling.

She's called Maia/Maya - pronounced My-a.

Originally we'd gone with Maia (my preference -i prefer the history of it and I think Maya could end up May-a) but people seem confused by the spelling.

Which would you go for?

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user1492757084 · 01/08/2023 03:10

And if you are unsure, still, perhaps go with ..
Miranda
Mara
Mary
Minerva
Moira

Marcipex · 01/08/2023 00:15

Maia which is very pretty and surely is the traditional spelling.
It is not uncommon where I live, and not hard to say.

babygirl88 · 01/08/2023 00:05

The only option which would have no confusion is Mya.

Both Maia and Maya look like they sound different to different people. Mya is just Mya imo.

Buttercupsdaisiesdandelions · 31/07/2023 23:44

I'd pronounce Maia as My-ah, and Maya as May-ah.

Jackonary · 30/07/2023 21:01

I would pronounce Maia (My-ah) to rhyme with Gaia
I would pronounce Mia (me-ah) like Mia Farrow
And for Maya I would be tempted to say May-uh but I would probably ask first

Chevrotains · 30/07/2023 20:41

Maia

ChildrenOfTheQuorn · 29/07/2023 15:27

I'd pronounce them both May-uh tbh. In the interests of an easy life, I'd go with Mya (even though it doesn't look as pretty).

Marynotsocontrary · 29/07/2023 12:31

Well, I think we're clearing things up nicely for OP 😅😂

user1492757084 · 29/07/2023 10:08

Maya

Lilisae · 29/07/2023 09:56

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DoggerelBank · 01/03/2023 20:46

This thread is fascinating. So many different opinions. For me, Maya/Maia = my-uh. Mia = mee-uh. And Mya/Myah = one syllable, with the y not making a syllable - not a nice sound at all. But just go for what you prefer and stick to your guns - it'll be fine.

Ozcando · 01/03/2023 20:37

Maya I personally would go for .

FightingFatAt49 · 01/03/2023 20:35

I think the only thing this thread tells us is that it can be spelled and pronounced either way. So, @AlpacaMeBags pick whichever spelling & pronunciation you want.

User6761 · 01/03/2023 20:08

I taught a Maia recently - I assumed it was pronounced My-a, but she corrected me and said it was May-a. She said she gets the wrong pronunciation all the time.

Reddahlias · 01/03/2023 19:33

Maya seems to be pronounced May-a around here.

May, Maybe, Mayonnaise, Mayflower etc are all pronounced May.

Mya would be Mya

Notellinganyone · 01/03/2023 19:03

I prefer Maya.

ourflagmeansdeath · 01/03/2023 18:49

Maya definitely. Every Maya I've known says it as Mya. It's the perfect spelling, I'd say Maia as May-a

cordelia16 · 01/03/2023 18:06

daisypond · 01/03/2023 17:57

No, they are two different words from different languages that happen to have the same spelling. It doesn’t mean they are pronounced the same. The name Maya has nothing to do with the Mayan people.

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It depends on which naming source is used though. I have a niece called Maya, and she is from India. There's a Sanskrit translation for the name. It also has Spanish and Greek origins.

The main thing is that the OP needs to know which pronunication she likes and then use that one, correcting people as needed.

daisypond · 01/03/2023 17:57

cordelia16 · 01/03/2023 14:49

Agree with this

It's the Mayan (My-an) civilization, not the May-an civilization.

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No, they are two different words from different languages that happen to have the same spelling. It doesn’t mean they are pronounced the same. The name Maya has nothing to do with the Mayan people.

RuthW · 01/03/2023 17:53

Mya

The rest are said Maya

Reddahlias · 01/03/2023 15:42

To confuse things further, it's spelled Maja in Germany.

In England I'd spell it Mya or Maya, but the latter could well be pronounced May-a

FightingFatAt49 · 01/03/2023 15:04

Maia is lovely OP, stick with it.

FightingFatAt49 · 01/03/2023 15:03

Maia is a bit yoonique
That's ridiculous 🙄 It's a Greek name and this is the original spelling.

ScentOfAMemory · 01/03/2023 15:03

Or, both Maya and Maia are pronounced in exactly the same way. Just depends which spelling you prefer.

ScentOfAMemory · 01/03/2023 15:01

cordelia16 · 01/03/2023 14:49

Agree with this

It's the Mayan (My-an) civilization, not the May-an civilization.

Show quote history

The Greek/Roman goddess is pronounced My-a.