Given name & surname
Maja
Maja is a feminine given name from Ancient Greek. It is used in German, Polish, Swedish, Danish, and 4 other languages.
Meaning & origin
Where it comes from
A possible origin is Latin, although the derivation remains uncertain.
How it developed
In Danish usage, Maja is a diminutive of Maria.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1953. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin. Maja is a variant of Maia. The history of Maia gives this family its wider story. In mythological stories, Maia is associated with the goddess of spring.
Combines direct and name-family evidence
Maja through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 2,049
- 0 boys · 2,049 girls
- Most popular year
- 2009
- 84 babies
- 2025
- 40
- #3,747 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −14%
- Easing
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 40 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 3,747 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 14.3% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 84 in 2009. In 2025, Illinois had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (5). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 3,065 as a first name in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Maja’s family of names
Maja is an affectionate form of Mary. In Swedish usage, Maja shares a linguistic root with the Finnish form Maija. In Swedish usage, Maja has a conventional equivalent in the Portuguese form Maria.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Around the world
Maja has relatives in 10 languages. Lines run from its Latin roots to each of them.
11 related names in 10 languages. Point at a dot, or tab to the map and use the arrow keys.
Nicknames & forms 8
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 3
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Across languages 6
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
See also 1
Names our sources mention alongside this one. They are related in story or meaning, not forms of this name.
People named Maja
- Maja KeucSlovenian singerborn 1992
- Maja WłoszczowskaPolish mountain bikerborn 1983
- Maja DahlqvistSwedish cross-country skierborn 1994
- Maja ChwalińskaPolish female tennis playerborn 2001
- Maja OgnjenovićSerbian female volleyball playerborn 1984
- Maja SavićMontenegrin handball playerborn 1976
- Maja HaderlapAustrian writerborn 1961
- Maja GojkovićSerbian politicianborn 1963
- Maja LundeNorwegian author and screenwriter (1975-)
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
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