How do you pronounce Maya?

[mummato1]

For all of my pregnancy I have been very keen on Maya for a girl.. and in my head I have been flicking between May-a, or My-a ?

How do you think it is meant to be pronounced?

[Trillian]

I have heard it pronounced both ways. Either is lovely, but I guess it depends on what middle name you have and also your last name as to which version you go with

[[M]umma[M]ia]

May-a

[hj1981]

when i read Maya - i pronounce it May - a

[sazzafrazz]

My initial reaction is May-a but I have heard either and I actually prefer My-a.

[NaeNae]

I would pronounce it May-a. its lovely no matter which way you wanted to spell it.

Nae x

[mummato1]

I prefer May-a.. as My-a makes me think of "Myer" the store..

I was checking out a few other baby name sites, and the consensus seemed to be that it is My-a and that May-a was - too quote "an uneducated" way to pronounce it (??)

[NaeNae]

hmmm I think you can call and pronounce your baby's chosen name however you wish phooey to those who think that its "uneducated".

If you like it I say go for it regardless

[mummato1]

thanks Nae

[BekZ]

It depends where you come from both are correct. Me personally if I see Maya I say May-a if I see Maja (which is the Polish spelling of the same name) I say My-a.

I you love the name and you have a preference on pronunciation then use it the way you want.

For example my girls are Sara, Loren and bub to be will be Eva. Sara is not Sarah it is Sa-ra (roll the r), Lo -ren (roll the the r) and Eva will be (Ever not EEva).

I love the name Maya

[Phteven]

Same as the department store.
I've never heard anyone say May-ah before and I'd probably have a little snigger if I did.

[Early Kids]

I pronounce it May-a.

It's a gorgeous name either way though

[Laranna]

I pronounce it May-ah. When I see/hear My-ah I consider it as a completely different name.

[AwesomeFoursome]

May-a

[Taurean]

Definitely 'May-a'. When I read the title of your post I instantly thought 'how else could you pronounce it???'. Maybe I'm one of the uneducated ones though

BTW, we have a local Indian restauarant called 'Maya Marsalla' and they pronounce it May-a.

[luna moth]

I am SO glad you posted this!

I know two of each, two May-as and two My-ahs. I was thinking about it because my friend with a My-ah thinks it's ridiculous to pronounce it any other way. I think it can be misleading, but there's really no other way to spell it that won't also be misleading.

I don't think it's ridiculous to pronounce it May-a. We say May, so it's quite logical to say May-a.
Interestingly, the May-as are up here in QLD, and the others are down south.

[babywannabe]

i know two Mayas' and both pronounced may-a.
I too can't help but think of the dept store if it were My-a.

[mummsie]

I have a little girl, Maya (pronounced May-a) just as you spell it. Either way ie My-a or May-a is lovely. Maya has a long history depending on your nationality thus the different spellings/pronunciations. It has links in many, many cultures. Ignorance reflects on those who don't understand names can be linked into different cultural backgrounds in both expression and spelling. My suggestion would be do some research to see which meanings resonate for you.