US Popularity Rank: 139

Origin: Sanskrit

Meaning: illusion; magic; mother

Primarily Sanskrit in origin, Maya is a feminine name with many meanings. Largely rooted in the Indian philosophical concept of Māyā, Maya means "illusion" or "magic," embracing that which is ever-changing. Though reflecting a realm of imagination untouched by reality, Maya is far from fanciful. As an alternative name for the Hindu mother goddess Lakshmi, Maya also upholds self-knowledge, fortune, and fertility. Its Greek origins only invigorate such qualities, with Maya finding grounding in Maia, meaning "mother." Yet it is through the Roman Goddess Maia that the appellation comes into its own, personifying Mother Earth. Embodying growth, creativity, and a nurturing nature, Maya is an altogether powerful name for any May baby.