Cyprus-Forum.com

[HDP5]

Hello.

My wife and I are considering Maia as the name for our little girl due in June. I'm Greek Cypriot & English and she's Finnish. We're trying to find a name we like thay works in all languages without different pronunciation (harder than you might think as Finnish is tricky language).

We are considering Maia. We think it works in English and Finnish. I know the name is derived from the oldest and most beautiful daughter of Atlas and mother of Hermes. So it's ancient Greek in original and has an association with 'mother' and month of May or spring in general. However, we know it's a modern word for 'midwife' in Greek.

Hoping native speaking Greeks / Cypriots on this forum who could advise on whether Maia would be considered 'weird' or inappropriate as a baby girl's name in modern Greek, because of its possible meanings?

Also - we would pronounce this name "My-Ah" but we're concerned it might be mispronounced "May-Ah" (as in "mayor" or "mayo") - how would most people pronounce this?

[DrCyprus]

Hello.

My wife and I are considering Maia as the name for our little girl due in June. I'm Greek Cypriot & English and she's Finnish. We're trying to find a name we like thay works in all languages without different pronunciation (harder than you might think as Finnish is tricky language).

We are considering Maia. We think it works in English and Finnish. I know the name is derived from the oldest and most beautiful daughter of Atlas and mother of Hermes. So it's ancient Greek in original and has an association with 'mother' and month of May or spring in general. However, we know it's a modern word for 'midwife' in Greek.

Hoping native speaking Greeks / Cypriots on this forum who could advise on whether Maia would be considered 'weird' or inappropriate as a baby girl's name in modern Greek, because of its possible meanings?

Also - we would pronounce this name "My-Ah" but we're concerned it might be mispronounced "May-Ah" (as in "mayor" or "mayo") - how would most people pronounce this?

Hey,

As long as she introduces herself as "My-Ah" we will call her that. In written form, you should advise her to write it like this in Greek : Μάϊα problem solved.

[GreekIslandGirl]

Hi HDP5

That's a beautiful name.

I have a married friend - neither partner is Greek but they have named their daughter Maya. It's one of the variant spellings of Maia from when it was Latinised for the month of May.

It's a great name and I think it might be gaining popularity from the poet Maya Angelou.

Go for it and all the best with the new baby.

[Get Real!]

Maya, doesn’t sound Cypriot at all. I’ve definitely never come across one in Cyprus.

Maybe this is your first baby... just call it whatever you like and don't over complicate things.

Today Maya is in Cyprus and tomorrow she may move to Australia! Parents can plan all they want but in the end kids take off in different directions...

[Get Real!]

I was wondering where I’d heard that name before and then it came to me…

http://maya.tv/en/

[DrCyprus]

I was wondering where I’d heard that name before and then it came to me…

http://maya.tv/en/

Με τα λουλούδια παίζει και γελά, και τους φίλους της τους αγαπά!

[repulsewarrior]

...if you wish the baby baptised in a Greek Orthodox Church, the name must be found in the Bible (if I am not mistaken).

Cheers!

[GreekIslandGirl]

...if you wish the baby baptised in a Greek Orthodox Church, the name must be found in the Bible (if I am not mistaken).

Cheers!

Absolutely not true.

Otherwise, my dear friends/relatives Socrates, Achilleas, Epimenondas etc etc etc have not been baptised. And they were!

[repulsewarrior]

...cheers, again!

[Pyrpolizer]

...if you wish the baby baptised in a Greek Orthodox Church, the name must be found in the Bible (if I am not mistaken).

Cheers!

Absolutely not true.

Otherwise, my dear friends/relatives Socrates, Achilleas, Epimenondas etc etc etc have not been baptised. And they were!

In the past the priests would only accept pure biblical names or ancient Greek.
Now the accept anything, even Mohamed