Active discussions

Help protect children from gaming harms.

Take our survey

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Baby names

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

Original poster

How would you pronounce Maya

137 replies

acrossthebay · 28/07/2024 12:02

Out of interest? I like the name but hear variations in pronunciation.

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
WhatHoJeeves · 28/07/2024 12:31

Maelil01 · 28/07/2024 12:22

The quote said Maya rhyming with player.

A rhyme means the endings of the words sound the same!

Show quote history

How do the endings of player and Maya pronounced my-uh not sound the same? Honest question as they sound the same to me when I say them!

Lisbeth50 · 28/07/2024 12:29

I would always have said May-a until I met someone with this name and it was My-a as in the Mayans.

LoneHydrangea · 28/07/2024 12:28

My-a to rhyme with higher.

IamnotwhouthinkIam · 28/07/2024 12:28

My - ah is the one used most internationally so would be my first guess. May-ah is a typically phonetic English pronunciation (since Maia/Maya was the Goddess of May/Spring) but is rarer these days sadly.

WonderingWanda · 28/07/2024 12:28

As a teacher this is one of those names that drives me mad. I have to make up rhymes to help me remember which pronunciation students prefer because I teach quite a few Maya's in different classes and it can be hard to remember.

Original poster
acrossthebay · 28/07/2024 12:27

i would say play ah but I think the meaning was clear enough. I mean, it’s so tedious when you have to justify everything.

OP posts:
TheHuntSyndicate · 28/07/2024 12:26
frenchfancy81 · 28/07/2024 12:25

My-ah but also know some who say May-a

Ffrench · 28/07/2024 12:24

I know about five across different countries and languages, and all pronounce the first syllable to rhyme with ‘high’.

VerasMacAndHat · 28/07/2024 12:24

My-a

Maelil01 · 28/07/2024 12:22

acrossthebay · 28/07/2024 12:20

May like the month uh

Show quote history

The quote said Maya rhyming with player.

A rhyme means the endings of the words sound the same!

RenoDakota · 28/07/2024 12:21

Myer. Sounds like higher.

CharlotteRumpling · 28/07/2024 12:20

Maya to rhyme with papaya is the Asian way.

Original poster
acrossthebay · 28/07/2024 12:20

Maelil01 · 28/07/2024 12:18

How on earth could Maya rhyme with player?
-er isn’t pronounced the same as -a!

Show quote history

May like the month uh

OP posts:
Maelil01 · 28/07/2024 12:18

acrossthebay · 28/07/2024 12:06

Yeah I’d have said Maya rhyming with player too but I’ve heard the rhyming with fire one too.

How on earth could Maya rhyme with player?
-er isn’t pronounced the same as -a!

Kitkat1523 · 28/07/2024 12:18

acrossthebay · 28/07/2024 12:06

Yeah I’d have said Maya rhyming with player too but I’ve heard the rhyming with fire one too.

Never mayah….always Maya….I’ve known a few as i worked in a children’s 0 to 19 team

CharlotteRumpling · 28/07/2024 12:15

I pronounce it Maa-ya with a long Ma, the Asian way. That way, it means illusion or chimera.

YorkshireIndie · 28/07/2024 12:13

My-a but a woman I knew wanted it pronounced May-a and got pissy every time it was mispronounced 🙄

PaTuBo · 28/07/2024 12:12

May-ah as in the month of May. I don't know any though.

I know 2 pronounced M-eye-ah, as in 👀, and they're spelled Mya

Mumtotweensos · 28/07/2024 12:11

I have a name like this and people always get it wrong because there are so many ways and spellings. It also depends on the accent & country you’re in. My name is popular in the UK, Asia and even in places in the Middle East!

I would say Maya / Fire

Sparklyhat · 28/07/2024 12:11

Maya to rhyme with Fire surely?

Never heard of it to rhyme with player

Owl55 · 28/07/2024 12:10

I worked in a school and it depended on the spelling of the name , it caused a lot of confusion and had so many different spellings and pronunciation by other parents and kids .

Warmfeet · 28/07/2024 12:08

May -a

RobertSalamander · 28/07/2024 12:07

My-a but I never know why it’s not May-a.

But then to me, Mia should be My-a too.