Māia is a Māori feminine given name meaning "brave, capable" in the Māori language. The name reflects traditional Māori values of strength, competence, and courage, often chosen to inspire or honor these qualities in a child.As a name, Māia aligns with the broader Polynesian naming tradition, where names often carry significant meanings relating to virtues, natural phenomena, or ancestral qualities. It may also be encountered as a surname occasionally, though its use as a first name is more common in contemporary Māori and New Zealand contexts.Notable bearers of the name include New Zealand netball player Māia Wilson (née Paseka), who plays for the Northern Mystics in the ANZ Premiership league. Her achievements on the court serve as a modern embodiment of the name's meaning.Outside of its Māori roots, Māia shares phonetic similarity with other names like the Italian Maia (meaning "May") or the Hebrew Maya (meaning "water"), though these are etymologically unrelated. The name has gained some international recognition through global naming trends, but it remains predominantly associated with Māori culture and identity.Key FactsMeaning: Brave, capableLanguage: MāoriGender: FeminineUsage: Predominantly Māori and New Zealand