Moya

♀ Girl

How to Pronounce Moya

Pronounced MOY-ah /ˈmɔɪ.ə/Medium

Meaning: Moya is an Irish surname (from O Muighe) and also a familiar Spanish surname; as a first name in Ireland it functions as a pet form of Maire (Mary), from the Hebrew Miriam, so it can carry Mary's sense.Low

In 30 seconds: Moya is an Irish and Spanish surname used as a first name, in Ireland a pet form of Mary. It stayed rare in the United States, peaking around 2003 (said MOY-ah).

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Origin LowIrish, Spanish

MeaningMoya is an Irish surname (from O Muighe) and also a familiar Spanish surname; as a first name in Ireland it functions as a pet form of Maire (Mary), from the Hebrew Miriam, so it can carry Mary's sense.

U.S. rank (2021)#16904 ↘ Falling

2021 U.S. births5 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)

Peak year2003

Total births (all-time)≈ 627

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

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

Moya is a surname in Ireland and Spain that crossed into first-name use, and in Irish families it stands as a pet form of Maire, the Irish Mary. Its American use is scarce and fairly recent.

Moya was never common here, given to only about twenty girls a year at its peak around 2003, and it stays rare. A brisk two-beat name, it reads as a heritage or surname-style pick.

Did you know? Moya is a surname in both Ireland and the Spanish-speaking world; in Irish families it also serves as an affectionate form of Maire, the Irish Mary.

Overall data confidence 50%

References - Moya — Irish/Spanish surname; Irish pet form of Maire (Mary)

Variations

MoiraMaireMoyra

Nicknames

MoMoy

Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Moya…

Maya— a like bright two-beat name

Moira— a like Irish Mary form

Mya— a like short vowel-bright name

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Moya mean?

It is an Irish and Spanish surname; in Irish use it is a pet form of Maire, the Irish Mary.

How do you pronounce Moya?

It is said MOY-ah /ˈmɔɪ.ə/, two syllables with the stress on the first.

Is Moya a boy or girl name?

Moya is used as a girl's name.

How popular is Moya?

It has always been rare in the United States, given to only about twenty girls a year at its peak in the early two-thousands.