Myiah

Meaning & origin

Myiah is a modern, creative spelling of Maya, first recorded in the U.S. in 1990. It peaked in popularity in 2012, when it was given to the most babies in its history. Since 2011, its usage has been on a downward trajectory. In the most recent year (2025), Myiah ranked 11,932 among U.S. births, with about 1 in every 229,610 girls receiving the name. It is most strongly associated with the 2010s, reflecting a broader trend of unique spellings of established names. The name has no strong ties to any particular U.S. state, indicating its usage is spread thinly across the country. Myiah remains a distinctive choice for parents seeking a name that is both familiar and individualized.

Myiah is a modern respelling of Maya, itself a name with multiple potential origins. The name Maya may derive from the Sanskrit word 'māyā' meaning 'illusion', or from the Hebrew 'mayim' meaning 'water'. It may also be a variant of Maia, a Greek goddess. Myiah emerged in the United States in the late 20th century as a creative spelling variant, influenced by the popularity of similar-sounding names like Mya and Mia.