Amaya is a baby name rising in popularity around the world and in the media. The name Amaya Jiwe is a female superhero featured in DC Comics, and Amaya of Katolis is a central character in the computer-animated series The Dragon Prince. Keep reading to find out more about this stylish baby name.

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Meaning of the Name Amaya:

Spanish: Mother city, capital city
Basque: The end
Japanese: Heavenly valley, pleasant place
Arabic: Night rain
Sanskrit: Without illusion

Origin of the Name Amaya:

Amaya is a given name and surname with Spanish and Basque language origins. The Spanish origin derives from the Proto-Indo-European root am(ma) (which meant “mother”). By adding the suffix –ya, Amaya came to refer to the “mother city” or “capital city” of a region. For the Basque language, the name may have derived from the Proto-Basque word amaia (which meant “the end”).

The name has various meanings in other parts of the world. In Japan, Amaya is a baby girl name composed of the Japanese characters that spell “heavenly valley” or “pleasant place.” Similarly, the Arabic alphabet uses letters that produce the transliteration “night rain.” In South Asia, Amaya is a common baby name that means “without illusion.” Derived from Sanskrit, the name combines the prefix a– (meaning “without”) and the Sanskrit root maya (meaning “illusion” or “magic”). Therefore, the modern Hindi name refers to a girl who is guileless, virtuous, or free from deceit.

Symbolism of the Name Amaya:

In Spanish, Amaya referred to a capital city or mother city of a region. Often located in mountainous areas for protection, these cities used castles, citadels, or snow-capped mountains as symbols of wealth and prosperity. The Arabic representation of the name often uses rain as the symbol of pleasantness and peace.

Style of the Name Amaya:

Traditional

Gender of the Name Ava:

Female

Pronunciation of the Name Ava:

ah-MAI-yah

Number of Syllables in the Name Ava:

Three

Emotion Evoked From the Name Ava:

The name Amaya evokes feelings of wholesomeness and refinement.

Alternative Spellings for Amaya:

Amayah, Ammaya, Amya, Amaia, Amiyah

Nicknames for the Name Amaya:

Ama, Mya, Mimi

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Popularity of the Name Amaya:

According to the Social Security Administration index, Amaya was the 140th most popular baby name for girls in 2020. Amaya first gained popularity in the U.S. in 1999. The name ranked 397th for girls that year.

Related names for the Name Amaya:

Amyra, Anya, Amara, Amora, Amaryllis, Amilia, Amani, Amal, Aja, Maya

Great Middle Names for Amaya and their meanings:

  • Claire (clear, bright, illustrious)
  • Faith (trust, confidence, belief)
  • Grace (charm, goodness, generosity)
  • Jade (green gemstone)
  • Jolie (pretty)
  • Joy (happiness)
  • Hope (positive expectation)
  • Renee (reborn)

Famous People With the Name Amaya:

  • Amaya Alonso (competitive swimmer)
  • Amaya Braganza (Broadway actress)
  • Amaya Forch (pop singer)
  • AmayaHargitay Hermann (daughter of actors Peter Hermann and Mariska Hargitay)
  • Amaya Salazar (artist)

Amaya in Movies/Pop Culture:

  • Amaya of Katolis (maternal aunt of Callum and Ezran in the computer-animated series The Dragon Prince)
  • Amaya Jiwe (female superhero featured in DC Comics)
  • Bai Amaya (title character in the Philippine television historical drama)