Maya or Maia?

[Mummymummy27]

I really really love the name Maria but cannot use it as it is taken by a close family member.
I think Maya / Maia is a lovely alternative, but I’m confused about which spelling I prefer! Leaning more towards Maia because it looks the most similar to Maria. What are your thoughts? :)

Oh and the pronunciation we want is My-a!

Prefer Maia or Mya because the pronunciation would be as you wish.

Maya looks to be like May-a.

The other option is Mia but there’s millions of them.

I have a Maia!

If you want it said Mya then spell it that way.

Maia and Maya are May- a

Mya makes the pronunciation obvious.

I thought Maya was pronounced My-a? I haven't heard it pronounced May-a before.

Whichever you pick people will still pronounce it incorrectly. Even after many, many reminders. So it doesn’t matter which one you pick or how you pronounce it cos people in general are rude and stupid. Speaking from bitter experience.

I really don’t like the Mya spelling. I think Maia is usually pronounced as Mya and the Indian Maya is also pronounced as Mya, so it depends on the culture, I think it could be both.

Oh and as well as my own daughters name which I’m not disclosing, I also know a Maya pronounced may a. A Maya pronounced my a and a Maia pronounced my a. Hence my pick whichever combo works for you comment.

Imo it won't make a difference to pronunciation whether you spell it Maya or Maia - generally in the UK, you will get 50% "May-ah", 50% "My- ah" depending on what people are used to and what area they are from.

Both pronunciations are technically correct as Maia was a Greek/Roman Goddess from whom we derive the name of the month of "May", and Maya an alternate name for the Hindu Goddess Lakshmi as well as the South American Mayan people ("My -ans"). So I instinctively say "May-ah" for Maia, and "My-ah" for Maya until corrected!

While I personally think Maia looks prettier, Maya is nearly always pronounced like you prefer "(My-ah") in other countries apart from the UK.

As a teacher - Maia/Maya/Mia/Mya are used completely interchangeably in terms of pronunciation. I know Mayas and Maias pronunced My-a, Me-a and May-a. I never know what pronunciation people want when I meet them for the first time so always ask! Just pick the spelling you prefer and prepare to tell people the correct pronunciation is my advice.

Maria is lovely but Maia/Maya is too current and with Mya, May and Mia too samey

I have always thought My-a was the correct pronunciation? I haven't ever come across it said May-a but I could be wrong though. Either way people will say it in different ways so you may have to be prepared for that so it doesn't annoy you.

As long as you are prepared for her to have to correct people every time I'd go for Maia. Or Mya

If you are interested in alternatives to Maria apart from Maia, there is also the elegant Shakespearean Marina and Mariana and the pretty Austenesque Marianne?

I'm another teacher and echo every word in Hufflepuffsunite's post.

There are an awful lot of Mia/Maya/Mya/Maias is the only thing - it’s v overused and has several different pronunciations. Maria would be much more unusual but also more classic and distinguished - can you really not use it? If not would a variation like Marianne or a similar sounding name like Marina work?

I agree - Maria is soo much nicer and interesting than Maia/Maya/Mia...!

I have a beautiful little Maia! So I would say from experience it really doesn’t matter what way you spell it, I think each way will be mis pronounced at some point so just pick the one you like best.. I hear it’s becoming more common but i love the name so she’s my little Maia so this doesn’t bother me

The names beautiful and it sounds like the Maia spelling is the one that suits what you’re looking for! Whatever you decide .. congrats on the baby girl