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Home › Baby Names Directory › Maira

Maira

♀ Girl

Pronounced MAYR-a /ˈmeɪr.æ/Medium

Meaning: Sparkle, gleam, flashMedium

In 30 seconds: Maira comes from Greek mythology and means 'sparkle, gleam, flash,' a name with light built into it.
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Origin MediumGreek Mythology
MeaningSparkle, gleam, flash
U.S. rank (2025)#2765 ↘ Falling
2025 U.S. births62 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)
Peak year1992
Total births (all-time)≈ 6,341

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 199219442025

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Drawn from Greek mythology, Maira carries the meaning of sparkle or a sudden gleam of light. The single recorded variant, Maíra, simply adds an accent to mark the stressed vowel.

The name's bright meaning matches its airy, open sound. Mythological roots give it a quiet sense of age without leaning on any one famous bearer.

Did you know? The meaning usually attached to Maira is 'sparkle, gleam, flash', and that core idea is what gives the name most of its long-term appeal.
Overall data confidence 70%
Behind the Name - Maira — etymology, usage, pronunciation, and related formsU.S. Social Security Administration — 2024 popularity rank and count supplied in the batch input CSV

Variations

Maíra

Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

  • ★Maira Kalman (1949-)
    American illustrator, author, and designer for The New Yorker and The New York Times
  • ★Maira Khan
    Pakistani television and film actress and model

If you like Maira…

Hera— another Greek Mythology name
Eris— another Greek Mythology name
Theia— another Greek Mythology name
Astraea— another Greek Mythology name
Nyx— another Greek Mythology name

Explore names like Maira

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Maira mean?

Maira is usually explained as meaning 'sparkle, gleam, flash' and is most often linked with Greek Mythology tradition.

How do you pronounce Maira?

It's commonly said MAYR-a /ˈmeɪr.æ/.

Is Maira a boy or girl name?

In this batch and in recent U.S. usage data, Maira is used as a girl name.

How popular is Maira?

In 2024, Maira ranked #2756 in the U.S. for girls, with 62 births recorded.

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