Declining since 1998, #10,917 for girls today.
Popularity of Maija since 1952
Babies named Maija per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1950s | 16 |
| 1960s | 75 |
| 1970s | 156 |
| 1980s | 124 |
| 1990s | 257 |
| 2000s | 335 |
| 2010s | 164 |
| 2020s | 62 |
Meaning & origin
Maija is a distinctively Nordic diminutive of Maria that has been used in the United States since 1952. Its U.S. popularity reached a peak in 1999, with usage steadily declining since 1998. In 2022, about 1 in 200,908 girls were named Maija, placing it at rank 10,917. The name has not seen a revival in recent decades and remains uncommon, with no top states dominating its usage.
Maija is the Finnish and Latvian equivalent of Maria, which itself comes from the Greek Mariam and Hebrew Miryam. The name has been used in Finland since the 19th century, gaining popularity in the 20th century. In Latvia, Maija has been a common name since the early 20th century, often associated with the spring month of May.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Maiju, Maikki, Maja
Sibling names for Maija
Names that share Maija's style, for a brother or sister.
