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Baby names

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

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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?

OP posts:

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sunflowerdaisyrose · 01/03/2023 14:52

I'd personally pronounce Maya as My-a and Maia as May-a as that's how the children I know do. Maybe Mya if you want less confusion? Even thoogh I know a May-a, My-a and Me-a well I still have to take a second to remember how they each pronounce their names!

cordelia16 · 01/03/2023 14:49

PaulaPaola · 01/03/2023 06:48

Two completely different names.
If you want a My-a sound, it's Maya you need to use (as in the ancient central American civilisation).
Maia is the goddess of growth after whom the moment of May was named, so I would pronounce this May-ya.

Agree with this

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

Sugarfree23 · 01/03/2023 14:12

McKay doesn't really follow English spelling rules. Yes it's pronounced Mc Keye but I'd think it might have Gaelic origins.
Because the girls name Kay isn't pronounced Keye.

Reddahlias · 01/03/2023 14:07

McKay = McKEYE,

What? I've only ever heard it pronounced Mc Kay

daisypond · 01/03/2023 13:47

Mya is like something a cat sounds -meow sort of, but squished together. M-ya.

user1492757084 · 01/03/2023 11:53

Maya is usually pronounced MYE-uh. People soon learn it.
Other English names with the same rule - McKay = McKEYE,
Aye aye and ay, as meaning yes, in Shakespeare is pronounced EYE.

Maia is from the goddess associated with the month of May.
Mia is very popular and is said as Mee-uh. Maia reminds me of Mia with an a - so May-ee-uh

GrassWillBeGreener · 01/03/2023 10:59

I'd also say Maia for your pronunciation.

Depending on relationships, you could try what my brother-in-law did with their eldest. They told all four grandparents (separately) what his name was, and asked them to write it down. As it turned out all 4 wrote down the same spelling so that was the one they went with.

I'm the one who has frequently got it wrong ... (one ie/ei choice, and the other vowel can vary too).

ShakinSteven · 01/03/2023 10:42

I stand corrected. I've never heard of a Mia pronounced Mya. For me it's an Italian name and therefore pronounced Mee-ah.

lovechickencrisps · 01/03/2023 10:29

Mya! Unless you want to be having the same conversation every time she meets someone new for the next 59493992 years

RunTowardsTheLight · 01/03/2023 10:24

ShakinSteven · 01/03/2023 08:36

That's a different name though. It's like saying Laura is the same name as Lara

Show quote history

No, it's pronounced the same way as the OP is saying.

PMAmostofthetime · 01/03/2023 09:18

Love the name Maia and the spelling.

thirdistheonewiththehairychest · 01/03/2023 08:45

Whichever way you spell it, it will permanently be mispronounced. I'm a teacher and in one year I had the following to try and remember:

Mia (pronounced mee-ahh)
Mia (pronounced my-ahh)
Maya (pronounced my-ahh)
Maya (pronounced (may-ahh)

It was impossible.

Needmorelego · 01/03/2023 08:44

I would spell it Mya.

lulalulalula · 01/03/2023 08:43

Mya, then there is less room for pronouncation mistakes. Maya (that spelling) is one of the most frequent names I come across for young children, but it certainly causes some confusion.

saraclara · 01/03/2023 08:41

bussteward · 01/03/2023 04:55

Maya as it’s my friend’s name! Pronounced the way you prefer. Maia is a bit yoonique.

It's not remotely yoonique. It's the accepted and historically correct spelling.

Yoonique is when parents faff about with spelling to get it as far away from the original as they can. Maia IS the original.

Margo34 · 01/03/2023 08:38

I know a Mia pronounced Mya - constantly having to correct people.

I'd go Maya.

ShakinSteven · 01/03/2023 08:36

RunTowardsTheLight · 01/03/2023 08:08

The child I know with this name spells is Mia

That's a different name though. It's like saying Laura is the same name as Lara

Whydoitry · 01/03/2023 08:23

Maia. I always pronounce it as My-ah.
Maya for me can be pronounced either way.
Plus why should you change your preferred spelling for ignorant people. Most people will hear it before they spell it so will pronounce it correctly.

RunTowardsTheLight · 01/03/2023 08:08

The child I know with this name spells is Mia

thymee · 01/03/2023 08:06

I'd pronounce them both May-ah on first glance, until someone told me otherwise. Sorry!

Rauha · 01/03/2023 08:05

Maia

Auntieobem · 01/03/2023 08:04

Maia.

Or you could really confuse people and go all eastern European with Maja

Dragonsandcats · 01/03/2023 07:47

I’d go with Maia. But would pronounce both May-a.

daisypond · 01/03/2023 07:45

I’d pronounce both as My-a on first guess, though May-a is possible with Maya. I only know Maia as My-a. May-a would not occur to me. Mya is only one syllable and very odd. It looks illiterate. Myah look odd but would get a My-a sound.

Meandfour · 01/03/2023 07:36