Maya?

[Augustbaby21]

What do you think of the name Maya with the pronunciation MAY-A rather then MY-A?

MY-A is my immediate assumption.

It's a fine name, don't dislike it, don't get excited over it. As it's completely inoffensive normal name surely it matters what you think of it, not mumsnet.

May-a

Well as it's an actual name, from Hindu, I personally think it should be pronounced correctly which is MY-A. It's a lovely name though.

I would say my-a. I love this name but I took it off my list because alot of people I asked said may-a and i didn't want that confusion all the time.

I think May-a is way nicer than My-a.
Plus, you can tell people you've named her after Maya Forstater (feminist heroine of the moment in UK!), although she pronounces it My-a.

Beautiful

Beautiful name and I personally think it's the prettier pronunciation. But you'll have to ignore those who say "My -ah" is the "correct" one - in English speaking countries both are used and in the UK, I think it's about 50/50.

The "May-ah" pronunciation comes from the Greek Goddess Maia (who is sometimes spelt Maya) from whom we derive the name of month of May in English. In most non- English speaking countries you'll automatically get "My-ah" though, so you'll need to bear that in mind.

I too would have pronounced it My-a. I think of Maya Angelou the author or the Mayans from south America.

Could you spell it Mayah if you want it pronounced May-a?

May-ah to me and it's beautiful.

But yes "My -ah " would be "correct" if you took the names origins from the Hindu concept or from the South American people (Mayans) instead. One of the benefits of Maya or Maia is that it has multiple origins and is very well used internationally (sometimes also spelt Maja).

I think it's nice, but it will be constantly mispronounced (MY-A) and that would put me off.

It will always be pronounced my a by others.... if that doesn’t bother you go for it.... it’s A very Very common Nordic girls name

Nice but will be mispronounced a few times. I’m sure once you correct once it won’t be a problem but I do think you’ll get the wrong pronunciation first time, most of the time.

Maya has always been pronounced My-a in my experience. I really like it.

It's should be a lovely name but I can't help associating it with mayonnaise.

I would pronounce it as My-a like the Maya people of Central America. Don’t pick it if you will be bothered by lots of people pronouncing it my-a.

You will have an uphill battle with the pronunciation. I also have the May-ah/Mayo association personally.

nah. Just too many Mias / Mayas / Myas - and she'll spend her whole life correcting the pronunciation and spelling.

I think it's lovely. I know one but hers is spelt Maia. Most people pronounce it as Mai -a.

I love it and regret not using it my first.

It’s alright. It’s very ‘now’. There will be more than one in the classroom when she goes to school.

@IamnotwhouthinkIam

Beautiful name and I personally think it's the prettier pronunciation. But you'll have to ignore those who say "My -ah" is the "correct" one - in English speaking countries both are used and in the UK, I think it's about 50/50.

The "May-ah" pronunciation comes from the Greek Goddess Maia (who is sometimes spelt Maya) from whom we derive the name of month of May in English. In most non- English speaking countries you'll automatically get "My-ah" though, so you'll need to bear that in mind.

Thanks everyone.

I wondered about the Greek goddess Maia and if that was pronounced May-ah as that’s how the month May was named. Seems that it can be pronounced either way.

I like it but having to correct people’s pronunciation all the time would put me off

I love it (because of Maya Angelou) but would always assume the my-a pronunciation.
I find may-a a very clunky sound. There are several in my DC's (very large) school and they are all pronounced my-a.

OP, I suspect the Goddess Maia would have been "My-ah" originally in Ancient Greek because of the pronunciation of fellow Greek Goddess Gaia ("Guy-ah") - however she is almost definitely where we get name of the month of May from as she was the Goddess of Spring and growth. Possibly a very long time ago English speaking people saw Maia written down and decided it was "May - ah", hence the pronunciation the month of May in English, who knows? Definitely Maya/Maia can be pronounced either way though!