Maya in Chinese
Maya in Chinese is 玛雅 (Mǎ Yǎ).
- Origin
- Sanskrit/Greek
- Meaning
- illusion; mother
Etymologically, Maya is Sanskrit/Greek and is commonly glossed as "illusion; mother". It first shows up in US Social Security records in 1940 and peaked in 2006.
3 ways to write Maya
phonetic
Following the sound of your name
玛雅
Mǎ Yǎ
The standard transliteration of Maya: 玛 (mǎ, "agate"), 雅 (yǎ, "elegant, refined"). Chosen for sound, it is instantly recognizable as this name.
Why these characters?
Mandarin has no consonant clusters, so the 1-syllable English name is spread over 2 characters: 玛 mǎ + 雅 yǎ. The tone contour is 3-3 (dipping, dipping).
Character breakdown
19 strokes total (simplified)- 玛
mǎ
Tone 3 · 7 strokes (simplified)
agate
- 雅
yǎ
Tone 3 · 12 strokes (simplified)
elegant, refined
PNG · black on white
Stroke order
Loading stroke guides…
meaningful
Chosen for meaning and association
婉玥
Wǎn Yuè
Inspired by "illusion; mother": 婉 (wǎn, "gentle, graceful") + 玥 (yuè, "legendary pearl / divine jade"), expressing elegance and good character.
Why these characters?
Maya's meaning ("illusion; mother") has no direct Chinese equivalent, so 婉 (gentle, graceful) and 玥 (legendary pearl / divine jade) express elegance and good character instead.
Character breakdown
19 strokes total (simplified)- 婉
wǎn
Tone 3 · 11 strokes (simplified)
gentle, graceful
- 玥
yuè
Tone 4 · 8 strokes (simplified)
legendary pearl / divine jade
PNG · black on white
Stroke order
Loading stroke guides…
balanced
A balance of sound and meaning
蔓婉
Màn Wǎn
蔓 (màn, "creeping vine") + 婉 (wǎn, "gentle, graceful"): echoes the sound of the English name while carrying meaning.
Why these characters?
Instead of the purely phonetic 玛, this uses 蔓 (màn, "creeping vine") for the "maya" sound, then 婉 ("gentle, graceful") for meaning.
Character breakdown
25 strokes total (simplified)- 蔓
màn
Tone 4 · 14 strokes (simplified)
creeping vine
- 婉
wǎn
Tone 3 · 11 strokes (simplified)
gentle, graceful
PNG · black on white
Stroke order
Loading stroke guides…
Recent US usage of Maya
In the Social Security Administration’s 2020–2025 snapshot, Maya ranked 53 among names recorded for girls, with 24,109 registrations in that group across the period. These are US birth-name records, rather than search counts or a ranking of Chinese names. The period covers part of a decade; it is not a final ranking for the whole 2020s.
Compare the dated figures in the SSA’s official 2020s name table. This snapshot was checked on 2026-10-15; any historical figures on this page describe their own stated period.
Popularity in the US
US Social Security records show 91,608 girls named Maya since 1940, with the high point in 2006 (5,046 births) and the busiest decade being the 2000s. Between 1990 and 2017 it climbed, from #399 to #61 among girls.
- Peak year
- 2006
- Peak decade
- 2000s
- First year
- 1940
- Total since 1880
- 91,608
More About Maya in Chinese
The Chinese translation of Maya offers multiple styles to suit different preferences. Whether you prefer a phonetic transliteration that sounds like your name, or a meaningful interpretation that captures the essence of Maya, you'll find options that work for you.
If you're exploring Chinese names for girls, you might also be interested in Cynthia in Chinese, Erika in Chinese, and Jocelyn in Chinese. Each name has its own unique character combinations and meanings.
Other popular choices include Tara in Chinese, Briana in Chinese, and Whitney in Chinese, each with beautiful traditional and simplified character options.
When choosing Chinese characters for Maya, consider whether you want:
- Phonetic accuracy: Characters that sound like Maya to native Chinese speakers
- Meaningful symbolism: Characters chosen for their beautiful meanings and cultural significance
- Balanced approach: A combination of sound and meaning that works well in both languages
Browse our complete A-Z index of Chinese names to explore more options, or start with our curated list of popular names in Chinese to see what others are choosing.
Frequently asked questions
How is Maya translated into Chinese?
玛雅 (Mǎ Yǎ), or 瑪雅 in traditional script. This is the conventional transliteration used in Chinese media.
Is Maya written differently in traditional Chinese?
Yes: 玛雅 becomes 瑪雅; the changed characters are 玛→瑪. Use traditional for Taiwan or Hong Kong audiences.
How many strokes does 玛雅 have?
19 strokes in simplified form and 26 in traditional; per character: 玛 7, 雅 12.