NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Maiah

A feminine name of uncertain origins, potentially derived from Maya or Mary.

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Maiah is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Maiah popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5891, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2006, with 5 births.

This profile covers 36 England and Wales registrations across 10 recorded years from 1999 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.

The latest count is about 60% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 36 living people in the UK are called Maiah. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2025 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Maiah ranked #5891 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 3 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2006, when 5 girls were registered as Maiah.
  • About 36 living people in the UK are estimated to have Maiah as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#5891

2024

Births in 2024

3

Latest year

Peak year

2006

5 births

Estimated living

36

2026

Meaning

What does Maiah mean?

The name Maiah has its origins in the Hebrew language and is a variant of the name Maia. It is believed to have emerged during the ancient period of the Middle East, around the time of the Old Testament.

Maiah is derived from the Hebrew word "mayim," which means "water" or "spring." The name is thought to have been given to children as a symbol of life, purity, and renewal, much like the life-giving properties of water.

In ancient Hebrew texts and scriptures, the name Maiah is not explicitly mentioned. However, the root word "mayim" appears frequently, particularly in references to rivers, wells, and other water sources that held significant cultural and religious significance.

The earliest recorded instances of the name Maiah can be traced back to the 16th century, where it appears in various historical records and documents from the Middle Eastern region. Among the notable historical figures who bore this name was Maiah bint Talha, a 7th-century Arab woman known for her poetry and literary contributions during the early Islamic era.

Another historical figure with the name Maiah was Maiah al-Qurashi, a 9th-century Islamic scholar and jurist from Cordoba, Spain. Her contributions to the field of Islamic jurisprudence and legal studies were highly regarded during her time.

In the 17th century, Maiah Sultana was a prominent figure in the Ottoman Empire. She was a concubine of Sultan Murad IV and later became the chief consort of Sultan Ibrahim I, playing an influential role in the Ottoman court.

Moving forward to the 19th century, Maiah Khanum was a renowned Afghan poet and writer. Her works were widely celebrated and contributed significantly to the literary landscape of Afghanistan during her lifetime.

Lastly, in the early 20th century, Maiah Saidi was a pioneering Egyptian feminist and activist who fought for women's rights and social reforms. She was a prominent figure in the Egyptian feminist movement and played a crucial role in advancing the cause of gender equality in her country.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Maiah over time

The chart below shows babies named Maiah registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1999 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Maiah, the clearest high point is 2006. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2024, compared with 5 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Maiah
01345199920112024

Decades

Maiah by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Maiah was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.

Decade Average rank Total births Years covered
2020s #5720 9 3
2010s #5037 19 5
2000s #3548 5 1
1990s #3900 3 1

Related

Names similar to Maiah

FAQ

Maiah: questions and answers

How popular is the name Maiah in the UK right now?

In 2024, Maiah was ranked #5891 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.

When was Maiah most popular?

The peak year on record was 2006, with 5 babies registered as Maiah in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Maiah?

A feminine name of uncertain origins, potentially derived from Maya or Mary.

How many people are called Maiah in the UK?

A total of 36 babies have been registered as Maiah across the 10 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.

Which records is this page based on?

The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.