Maia

At a Glance

Meaning

Refers to the mythological Maia — mother of Hermes in Greek myth, and a Roman goddess of springtime growth (source of the month name 'May'); also used independently as a Māori name meaning 'brave, confident'

Origin

Greek/Roman (mythological); also Māori

Gender

Girl

Pronunciation

MY-ahListen

Maia carries a double mythological pedigree: in Greek myth she's the mother of Hermes, and in Roman tradition she's a goddess of springtime growth — the very source of the month name 'May.' Separately, Maia is also used as a Māori name meaning 'brave, confident.' It's pronounced MY-ah (/ˈmaɪə/), and fits both an outdoorsy, nature-inspired and a timeless, classic style.

Meaning & Origin of Maia

Meaning: Refers to the mythological Maia — mother of Hermes in Greek myth, and a Roman goddess of springtime growth (source of the month name 'May'); also used independently as a Māori name meaning 'brave, confident'.

Origin: Greek/Roman (mythological); also Māori.

Source: Wiktionary, Wikipedia.

How to Pronounce Maia

Popularity of Maia

Maia peaked at #420 in 2022 with 752 babies given the name, and has since eased slightly to #459 in 2024 with 681 — a modest dip, but still well within its recent range across Social Security data going back to 1950.

Names Like Maia

These names share Maia’s style, era or origin.

• Alyssa
• Aura
• Azalea
• Georgia
• Alexa
• Alexia

FAQ

What does the name Maia mean?

Refers to the mythological Maia — mother of Hermes in Greek myth, and a Roman goddess of springtime growth (source of the month name ‘May’); also used independently as a Māori name meaning ‘brave, confident’. (Source: Wiktionary)

How do you pronounce Maia?

Maia is pronounced MY-ah (IPA: /ˈmaɪə/).

Is Maia a popular name right now?

Maia is near its all-time peak (#420 in 2022), ranked #459 in 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1950–2024.)

Make Maia Name Art

Free printable nursery art for Maia, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.