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Maya 麻耶 – Japanese boy given name
Maya (麻耶) is read まや and has 2 syllables. It is mostly used for boys. Written as 麻耶, the characters mean: hemp + question mark. This reading can be written with at least 55 different kanji combinations (the 6 most common are shown below), with 12 to 24 strokes in total.
About the name Maya
Maya (麻耶 or 真弥) is a short name used worldwide. In Buddhism, Maya is also the mother of the Buddha.
How to write Maya in Japanese
| Kanji | Reading | Literal meaning | Strokes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 麻耶 | まや | hemp + question mark | 20 |
| 真弥 | まや | true + all the more | 18 |
| 摩耶 | まや | chafe + question mark | 24 |
| 真八 | まや | true + eight | 12 |
| 真野 | まや | true + plains | 21 |
| 真知 | まや | true + know | 18 |
Meanings are literal translations of each kanji. Names are often chosen for sound, so the intended meaning can differ.
The kanji in Maya
Maya in different scripts
| Romaji | Maya |
|---|---|
| Hiragana | まや |
| Katakana | マヤ |
| Kanji (most common) | 麻耶 |
Full name examples
- Maya Yuki (Japanese order: 結城麻耶, ゆうき まや)
- Maya Kono (Japanese order: 河野麻耶, こうの まや)
- Maya Maki (Japanese order: 牧麻耶, まき まや)
How to pronounce Maya
Break it into 1 parts: maya. Japanese has no stressed syllables like English, so say each part with the same length and the same weight. The 2 sound units are written まや.
Questions about Maya
What does Maya mean in Japanese?
Maya has no single fixed meaning: it depends on the kanji. The most common spelling, 麻耶, combines these meanings: hemp + question mark. Other spellings include 真弥 (true + all the more), 摩耶 (chafe + question mark), 真八 (true + eight).
How do you write Maya in kanji?
The most common way is 麻耶 (まや). It can also be written 真弥, 摩耶, 真八, 真野, 真知.
How do you write Maya in katakana?
Maya is マヤ in katakana and まや in hiragana.
Is Maya a boy or girl name?
Maya is mostly used for boys.
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Other names that use 麻
麻: hemp, flax, numb
Names with a similar sound
Name data: JMnedict and KANJIDIC2, © EDRDG, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Filtered, regrouped and annotated by NihonNames.