Message: "Maia" - Behind the Name

Maia

by BBH

8/26/2009, 5:16 PM

I feel like the overused Maya has eclipsed, the softer, more subtle Maia, whose meaning as well as whose spelling appeals to my sensibilities exponentially more. I rarely even see it mentioned, but I used to know someone in all state chorus with this name, and it as always struck me as graceful, where I find Maya a bit garish. Still, I would be unlikely to use either, but felt the need to shed some light on it, and dust it off a bit.

Maia Catharina
Maia Cecilia
Maia Jocasta
Maia Lucinda
Maia Susanna
Maia Sophia
Maia Therese
Maia Victoria
Maia Winifred

#Maia

Replies

- Leodo

8/27/2009, 7:12 PM

I also like the variant Maila--but don't know if it would get pronounced right very often. Everyone keeps telling me it looks like Mayla and if I use it I should spell it Myla...which seems less graceful.

Maia is cute--I see the spelling Mya used a lot as well...don't care for it as much as Maya or Maia.

- Link

8/26/2009, 9:29 PM

I like Maia Celcilia the best. But both Maia and Maya are SO overused here, it's not possible for me to consider it a usable name.

- Wordsmith

8/26/2009, 8:57 PM

I delight in the archaic nature of Maia.

Maia Jocasta, Maia Lucinda, Maia Therese, and Maia Winifred appeal to me.

- Chanel

8/26/2009, 7:41 PM

I love Maia, and hate Maya. Something about Maia is delicate and pretty, like a ballerina. Maya reminds me of Mayan Indians, not necessarily bad, but not pretty like Maia.

I don't have a set Maia combo I love, but Maia Daphne, Maia Lily, Maia Pearl, and Maia Helen are on my list.

This message was edited 8/26/2009, 7:43 PM

- Katica (earthnut)

8/26/2009, 6:51 PM

I always wanted to use Maia because it's a family name. Now that I'm starting a family I've decided against it because it's too common and has acquired too many spellings. It's a shame.

- telfalathiel

8/26/2009, 6:42 PM

I love it. I probably won't use it though, becuase I love Milo for a boy and they sound similar.

- Marija Luminitsa

8/26/2009, 6:18 PM

I love it and I have long preferred that spelling. Like you, it is a name I probably would not ever use, but I like to see it.

I'm not fond of Winifred (due to an unfortunate personal association), but I love your other combos.

- Bear +1

8/26/2009, 5:33 PM

Yes, me too. While I pronounce maya and Maia the same way, there's something more refined about Maia. My favorite combos are Maia Celeste and Ingrid Maia.

I used "Ingrid Maia" as a pseudonym on another site. It was after a friend of mine in highschool, Ingrid Maya. It was the first time I realized that a mn doesn't have to be Marie or Lynn. Quite the revelation for a young namenerd. The "y" spelling looked amiss, so I altered it to Ingrid Maia.

From your list, I love Maia Lucinda the best. Very elegant.

- BBH

8/26/2009, 5:38 PM

Those are some pretty combos you mentioned.

- Llewella (penguiny7)

8/26/2009, 5:19 PM

I agree about Maia. It seems much more elegant than Maya, which I think seems much more earthy. I generally prefer elegant names. I have a friend named Maia Esther (which I think is beautiful), and she's the only Maia/Maya I've ever met. Maia Catharina is gorgeous too.

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