Maia—pronounced MY-uh in English and MAH-yah in Italian and Spanish—traces its roots to classical antiquity, where it belonged to the shyest of the Pleiades, a mountain-loving nymph who nevertheless managed to birth the fleet-footed Hermes; the Romans, never ones to miss a branding opportunity, elevated her further as a gentle goddess of springtime growth, lending her name (and a little flourish) to the month of May. Etymologically, the Greek maia signified “mother,” “nurse,” or simply “wise older woman,” a meaning that folds affectionate caretaking into an already lyrical sound. On modern American birth certificates, Maia has performed a slow-burn ascent—leaping from the fringe of the Top 700 in the late 1960s to a comfortable perch around the mid-400s today—proof that understated myth can still outpace more flamboyant contemporaries. The compact spelling spares parents the perennial “Maya or Myah?” spelling bee, yet keeps the celestial aura of the star cluster twinkling in the background. All told, Maia offers a nimble blend of ancient pedigree and present-day polish, a name as capable of scaling Olympus as it is of appearing on a kindergarten cubby—no winged sandals required.
Maia Sandu is Moldova's current president, a former prime minister, and founder of the Party of Action and Solidarity. |
Maia Shibutani is an American ice dancer who, with her brother Alex, won Olympic bronze and made history as the first ice dancers of Asian descent to medal at the Olympics. |
Maia Kobabe is an American cartoonist and author renowned for the 2019 memoir Gender Queer, which explores themes of identity, sexuality, and anti-fascism. |
Maia McCall Mitchell is an Australian actress and singer nominated for eight Teen Choice Awards. |
Maia Pearl Szalavitz is an American reporter and author specializing in science, public policy, and addiction treatment. |
Maia Wilkins is an American ballerina who was a principal dancer for the Joffrey Ballet and now serves as the Associate Director of Ballet at Northern California Dance Conservatory. |
Maia Weinstock is an American science writer and Deputy Editor of MIT News, known for her passion for Lego. |
Maia Azarashvili, a retired Georgian sprinter from Tbilisi, specialized in the 200 meters and represented both the USSR and Georgia. |