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SatApr 12

National Maya Day – April 12, 2025

National Maya Day is observed on April 12 every year. The day is dedicated to all the people called Maya and the name can trace its roots back to several cultures and civilizations. While Maya is not a common name, it has always been popular. We believe the word first came from India. But it also likely evolved independently from other cultures as well. Maya means dreams or illusions in Sanskrit. It is a very old name and we are about to explore so much about this amazing name and the people who own that name.

History of National Maya Day

What could be the meaning of all the dreams we see? Is our world an illusion? We do not know for sure. But we do know that the Indians used the word ‘Maya’ in situations like this. Maya means dreams and illusions. It came from Sanskrit; various other cultures also claim the word, Maya. But, the oldest usage comes from Sanskrit. Sanskrit is also one of the oldest surviving languages in the world. Maya is also a Hindu deity’s name. Some people consider her to be an avatar of Goddess Lakshmi, while others consider her the Goddess of illusions.

Greek, Spanish, Hebrew, Roman, and a few others also use the name. Whatever the culture may be, they all use the name ‘females’ only. The Greeks use the name to mean ‘good mother.’ Maya was also a prominent figure in Greek mythology. Hebrew uses the word to mean water. The name is also used to refer to the Mayan people, from the ancient civilization that was located on the American continent.

People with the last name Maya were not that prominent before the 1980s. The Social Security Administration data ranks the name as the number 61 most popular girl’s name in the U.S. The American poet and author Maya Angelou popularized the name. This ancient name managed to survive even in the modern age. The simplicity of the name and its cultural significance helped the name become popular even in our modern world.

National Maya Day timeline

1984
The George Pólya Award

Maya Bar-Hillel, an Israeli psychologist, gets the award for her work on probability.

1981
The Maccabiah Games

Maya Calé-Benzoor, an Israeli former Olympic runner and long jumper, gets the gold medal.

1981
The Vietnam Veterans Memorial

At 21, Maya Lin, an American designer, and sculptor designed the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.

1991
The Death of Maya Dolas

This Indian gangster dies in an encounter at the 1991 Lokhandwala Complex shootout by police.

National Maya Day FAQs

Is Maya an American name?

Maya is a name that is common in the U.S. But it has its independent origins in various languages like Hebrew, Sanskrit, Spanish, Greek, etc.

What does Maya mean?

Maya means a different thing in different languages. It means courage for the Māori it means dream for the Indians, Maya is a Goddess for the Indians and a mythical figure for the Greeks.

Does Maya mean earth?

The Romans considered Maya or Maia as the incarnation of the Earth and/or the goddess of spring. The month of May is named after Maia.

National Maya Day Activities

  1. Wish a Maya well

    We all know someone named Maya. Wish them a good day and a happy National Maya Day.

  2. Send a gift card

    A gift can bring a smile to anyone's face. Send a gift card to Maya.

  3. Arrange a party for the Maya you know

    Throw a party for all the Maya you know. Invite people randomly and ask them to bring a Maya that they know with them.

5 Intriguing Facts About Maya

  1. Most popular girl names

    Maya is among the most popular girl names in the U.S. according to data from Social Security.

  2. Consistently popular name

    The name Maya never once fell from the top 100 most popular names list from the last decade.

  3. Mayas in 2006

    In 2006, more than 5,000 newborns were given the name Maya.

  4. Maya in boys

    There have only been 152 boys in the U.S. with the name Maya.

  5. Maya in Māori

    Maya means courage and bravery in the Māori language.

Why We Love National Maya Day

  1. We celebrate special people

    It is a day for all the Mayas in the world. We love to make people special and today is for Mayas.

  2. We rekindle old friendships

    We love to get in touch with old friends and make new ones. Today is a perfect day to get in touch with a Maya that you have lost contact with.

  3. We take a walk down history

    A day for Maya means a day to understand the history and origin of the name. We love to make people curious and help them learn new things every holiday.

National Maya Day dates

Year Date Day
2025 April 12 Saturday
2026 April 12 Sunday
2027 April 12 Monday
2028 April 12 Wednesday
2029 April 12 Thursday