We have chosen our girl name, but which spelling??

[MUMOF5]

Our chosen name is Maya . Suggested it to DH and he loves it (which is a first!) , but im not keen on it spelt this way. I've found two alternate spellings for it: Maiya and Maia. Which one is prettier, easier to pronounce correctly?? (I want it pronounced May-a, not My-a)

I also prefer these spellings, as they are less common (as in number of babies registered in the UK with this name spelling)

 

[JJKCB]

the I is redundant if your using Y so I wouldn't use Maiya it just looks silly

I prefer Maya
next choice would be Maia

I think Maya is moat likely to be pronounced the way you want as My-a is most commonly spelled Mia

 

[emyandpotato]

the I is redundant if your using Y so I wouldn't use Maiya it just looks silly

I prefer Maya
next choice would be Maia

I think Maya is moat likely to be pronounced the way you want as My-a is most commonly spelled Mia

Exactly this.

 

[MUMOF5]

Hmm I'm thinking you are both right, its more important to me that its pronounced correctly, even though I think Maia looks prettier. Also seeing as its after my nan who spelt her name 'May' then I should really stick to the original. Thank you There were onyl 1,072 registered births with this name last year, so although its popular its not overly so....

 

[Ruby2013]

I love it spelt Maya.
Maia is okay but not kean on Maiya x

 

[wannabemomy37]

I'm not a fan of May-a if I'm 100% honest and much prefer My-ah.

Honestly I'd first think of pronouncing it as My-ah even spelt any of those variations, but would stick with Maya because an I definitely makes the "My" sound.

What about Maeya? I don't think anyone could mispronounce that

 

[MUMOF5]

Thanks for the suggestion, but I really don't like the name pronounciation my-a. The spelling Maeya is a good idea though.

 

[wolfQ]

I would pronounce all of those spellings as "my-a." Someone said they would pronounce "mia" as "my-a" I would pronounce that as "Me-a." So obviously don't ask me to pronounce your daughter's name lol. I've never actually heard anyone say the name "May-a." I would maybe spell it Maeya to get that pronunciation, but that's just me.

 

[Snufflepop]

I agree with pp, prefer the original spelling. Especially with the connection to the name May. Otherwise the connection is lost a bit.

 

[Paperhearts]

Maia would sound like "My-uh" like Kaia or Mai Tai. All the little girls I know named Mia go by "Mee-uh". Like Mia Farrow.

 

[JJKCB]

Maia would sound like "My-uh" like Kaia or Mai Tai. All the little girls I know named Mia go by "Mee-uh". Like Mia Farrow.

but im sure its Mia (my-a) in two and a half men which is where I first heard it 5 years ago

the whole 'e' thing is weird it seems obvious it would be an 'i' sound or it would be Mea (you dont see Leah as Lia or Rhea as Ria)

 

[MUMOF5]

I think it's down to individual pronounciation. The little girl called Mia in my sons class is pronounced Mee-a, but a girl in other class is pronounced Mya but spelt same. My friend has a daughter called lia, pronounced Lee-a. I guess it will be down to me to tell everyone how we want to pronounce it.

 

[themoonwelove]

I think Maya is moat likely to be pronounced the way you want as My-a is most commonly spelled Mia

Fully agree with this...

Nice name choice!

 

[RubyRainbows]

Congrats on choosing a name! I love that it honors your nan & your OH loves it too!

I have never heard the name "may-a" before, though! Very unique!

I have known several girls named Maya, Mya, Maia, Maiya - all pronounced "my-a"

And I know quite a few Mia's - all pronounced "mee-a" (plus I just googled a youtube video of Two & a Half Men just to confirm and the Mia on the show also goes by the pronunciation "mee-a").

May-a would need it's own special spelling in my opinion - so it's pronounced the way you want it to be. I guess Maeya or Mayah maybe? I have a feeling you will be correcting ppl often though - at least until they learn the right way to say your daughter's name.

 

[MUMOF5]

I have a feeling you will be correcting ppl often though - at least until they learn the right way to say your daughter's name.

I'm used to it with my eldest daughter, her name is Shani (pronounced Shay-nee), people were/are forever pronouncing it Shar-nee. It's no major biggie xx

 

[Leesy]

Personally i like Maya. Mya is a different name and I have never come across Maya being pronounced as Mya. If I had to choose I would prefer Maia of your alternative spelling.

 

[Buttercup84]

I'd go with Maya to have the May sound in it definitely, Maia and similar spellings would be pronounced My-a by most people in my opinion.
As far as Mia goes i've only ever heard it pronounced Me-a, like Leah with an M.

 

[Mummymoo_x]

Maya

 

[fairy_gem]

Maia for sure!