Maia — Meaning, Origin & Everything to Know
Maia means 'great mother; goddess of spring' — a Greek name from Greek.
Drawn from Greek, Maia means 'great mother; goddess of spring' and has a character all its own. Rooted in Greek, Maia suits parents who want a name that feels distinctive yet easy to wear. As a daughter's name, Maia suggests freedom, growth and natural beauty and travels comfortably across languages.
| Name | Maia |
|---|---|
| Meaning | At its core, Maia carries the meaning 'great mother; goddess of spring', rooted in Greek |
| Origin | Greek |
| Language | Greek |
| Gender | Girl |
| Numerology number | 6 |
| Pronunciation | MAIA |
| Popularity tier | Tier 3 |
What Does the Name Maia Mean?
At its core, Maia carries the meaning 'great mother; goddess of spring', rooted in Greek.
The early history of Maia belongs to the Greek world, where 'great mother; goddess of spring' was a quality worth naming a child for. Across generations the meaning 'great mother; goddess of spring' held firm while Maia passed through families, migration and changing fashion.
Modern parents tend to hear Maia as fresh rather than old-fashioned, with 'great mother; goddess of spring' giving it a positive, aspirational edge. It is exactly this balance that lifted Maia into wider use in the 2020s.
Symbolically, Maia leans toward freedom, growth and natural beauty, with its Greek roots adding heritage to that idea.
Origin & Etymology of Maia
Greek · Greek
Trace Maia back and you reach Greek and the meaning 'great mother; goddess of spring'. When families carried the Greek tradition abroad, Maia went too, picking up minor spelling shifts without losing 'great mother; goddess of spring'. Now Maia works as both a nod to roots and a thoroughly usable everyday name.
Within Greek culture, Maia connects to enduring values through its idea of freedom, growth and natural beauty.
How Greek names are chosen
Greek naming is close to an algorithm, which is why the same names recur down a family for centuries: the eldest son takes his paternal grandfather's name and the eldest daughter her paternal grandmother's, with later children drawing on the mother's side. The name is usually settled within the first week or ten days, the christening following at around forty days, and by custom the godfather has the final word. Because so many names are saints' names, most Greeks keep a name day — the saint's feast — as well as a birthday, and it is often the more sociable of the two. Regional patron saints show up plainly in the distribution: Spyridon clusters on Corfu, Gerasimos on Kefalonia, Dionysios on Zakynthos.
How to Pronounce Maia
MAIA — Maia is a single, simple syllable — said just as it reads. From Greek roots: vowels are open and clearly sounded.
Popularity of the Name Maia
Maia has been climbing in recent years, with its momentum centred on the 2020s.
Popularity trends are based on historical naming pattern data and updated periodically, not real-time rankings.
Personality Traits Associated with Maia
The name Maia tends to bring free-spirited, grounded associations to mind. Both the 'great mother; goddess of spring' meaning and the rhythm of Maia feed that picture. In the traditions that link names to temperament, Maia lands on the side of freedom, growth and natural beauty. A name is only a starting impression, and Maia's happens to be a kindly one — a quiet plus that frames the numerology and zodiac notes below.
Maia Numerology
The name Maia carries the numerology number 6.
In numerology Maia reduces to 6, the Nurturer — love and responsibility. Tradition holds that a 6 shapes someone's natural motivations and way of relating to others. Set beside the meaning 'great mother; goddess of spring', the 6 adds another layer for parents who weigh numerology when naming.
Maia & Zodiac Connection
If you like to pair names with star signs, Maia leans toward earthy Taurus and free-roaming Sagittarius.
Curious what your baby's zodiac sign reveals? Explore GetMyHoro →
Names Similar to Maia
Sibling Names That Go With Maia
- Maia & Maya — Pairs naturally with Maia without echoing it.
- Maia & Thea — A like-minded match in feel for Maia.
- Maia & Flora — Sits comfortably beside Maia as a sibling name.
- Maia & Chloe — Shares a complementary sound and style with Maia.
- Maia & Hazel — Pairs naturally with Maia without echoing it.
- Maia & Ivy — A like-minded match in feel for Maia.
Middle Names for Maia
Maia Grace · Maia Elise · Maia Sky · Maia Claire · Maia Pearl · Maia Faith
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+What does the name Maia mean?
Maia means 'great mother; goddess of spring'. It comes from Greek and is linked with freedom, growth and natural beauty, which makes it a meaningful choice for a daughter.
+What is the origin of Maia?
Maia is Greek in origin, from Greek.
+What is the numerology number for Maia?
In Pythagorean numerology Maia reduces to 6 — the Nurturer — love and responsibility.
+Is Maia a popular name?
Maia has been rising in popularity, with its strongest momentum in the 2020s.
+Is Maia suitable for any gender?
Maia is most often used as a girl's name, though naming is personal and the meaning 'great mother; goddess of spring' suits any child.
+What names pair well with Maia for a sibling?
Names such as Maya, Thea, Flora sit well beside Maia, sharing a complementary style.