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Maija as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Maija

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The baby name Maija is a Female name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced /ˈmaɪ.jɑ/ (MY-ya).

Maija is Estonian, Finnish, Latvian in Origin.

Gender: Female
Syllables: 2.0
Pronunciation: /ˈmaɪ.jɑ/ (MY-ya)

What is the meaning of the name Maija ?

The baby name Maija is a Female name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced /ˈmaɪ.jɑ/ (MY-ya).

Maija is Estonian, Finnish, Latvian in Origin.

Maija is a feminine given name rooted in the Nordic-Baltic sphere. In Finnish it is a vernacular form of Maria, itself deriving from Hebrew Miryam; meanings proposed for this ancient name include "beloved," "wished-for child," and the folk etymologies "sea of bitterness" or "drop of the sea." In Latvian, Maija also aligns with the month of May (Maijs) and the Roman/Greek Maia, the springtime goddess, lending associations of growth and warmth.

Use is long-standing in Finland and peaked in the mid-20th century; in Latvia it grew across the 20th century and remains familiar today. Variants and cognates include Maja (Scandinavian, Slavic), Maia and Maya (international), and the Finnish diminutives Maiju and Maikki. Compound forms such as Maija-Liisa appear in Finland. Related names: Maria, Mary, Marja, Mia.

Maija has the following similar or variant Names

Maija – Popularity by country

Based on birth registration data from national statistics agencies.

Country Gender Year Rank Born of
NA 0 #33 1 2,537
Finland Girls 2026 #34 16,319 3,895
EE 0 #37 1 1,051
Finland Girls 0 #46 2,540 1,368
Finland 0 #57 637 830
LU 0 #66 1 2,830
SI 0 #80 1 1,612
EE Girls 0 #129 10 1,888
MT Girls 0 #153 1 3,773
PR Girls 0 #167 1 3,171
Sweden Girls 2022 #176 4 1,568
AE 0 #187 1 10,220
LU Girls 0 #190 1 4,850
LT Girls 0 #195 6 1,904
DK 0 #206 1 5,198
NA Girls 0 #208 17 7,146
AL Girls 0 #227 1 4,141
BG Girls 0 #231 1 3,559
BD 0 #241 1 5,992
PT 0 #250 1 4,161
Canada Girls 2017 #290 7 3,011
HR Girls 0 #294 1 3,687
SA 0 #312 1 10,560
DK Girls 0 #326 4 7,429
KZ Girls 0 #331 2 5,862
MY 0 #354 1 12,352
France Girls 2016 #406 3 3,228
EG 0 #411 2 6,387
OM Girls 0 #423 2 15,987
PT Girls 0 #471 1 7,952
ZA 0 #474 1 14,421
CO 0 #510 1 7,768
RU Girls 0 #518 6 11,913
CM Girls 0 #560 1 11,671
SG Girls 0 #631 2 18,916
CL Boys 0 #700 1 13,390
United States Girls 2024 #908 9 8,487
NL Girls 0 #942 14 5,933
NG Boys 0 #1,000 2 16,906
PE Girls 0 #1,007 4 14,861
SA Girls 0 #1,013 2 25,931
MX Boys 0 #1,033 1 16,355
MY Girls 0 #1,072 1 24,821
CO Girls 0 #1,151 2 16,140
ZA Girls 0 #1,232 5 25,928
TR 0 #1,254 1 19,440
MX Girls 0 #1,267 1 17,781
ZA Boys 0 #1,270 3 25,619
IT Girls 0 #1,430 17 9,415

Maija is popular in 36 countries — most recent births per country:

United States
Canada
Sweden
France
AE

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People also ask about Maija

Maija is predominantly a girl's name.
Maija is a 2 syllable name, pronounced /ˈmaɪ.jɑ/ (MY-ya).
Common nicknames and spelling variations include Maja, Maia, Maya and Maija (alternative spellings).
Yes, very popular — Maija ranked #34 in Finland in 2026, and appears in official birth registries across 5 countries.
Maija ranks highest in Finland (#34 in 2026).
Maija's popularity is rising. It moved from #917 in 2014 to #908 in 2024 in United States.