Maiana
A feminine Hawaiian name meaning "mirage, illusion or wandering soul".
Name Census estimates that about 143 living Americans carry the first name Maiana. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Maiana today is around 9 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Maiana births was 2021 (15 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Maiana. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
People living today
143
~ 1 in 2,396,883 Americans
Peak year
2021
15 babies that year
Average age
9
years old
2024 SSA rank
#7,429
Tracked since 2000
Popularity
Maiana: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Maiana from the 2000s through to the 2020s, spanning 3 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 72 total registrations. The name continues to be given at rates close to its all-time high, suggesting it has not yet fallen out of fashion.
Babies born per year
Decades
Maiana by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Maiana during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Maianas live
Origin
Meaning and history of Maiana
The name Maiana is believed to have its origins in the Tahitian language, spoken in the Tahitian islands of French Polynesia in the South Pacific Ocean. It is thought to be derived from the Tahitian word "mai," meaning "calm" or "peaceful," and the word "ana," meaning "a ray of light" or "sunshine." Thus, the name Maiana can be interpreted to mean "peaceful sunshine" or "tranquil light."
While the exact roots of the name are uncertain, it is likely that the name has been in use in the Tahitian culture for centuries. The Tahitian people have a rich oral tradition, and it is possible that the name Maiana was passed down through generations of storytellers and oral histories.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Maiana can be found in the writings of French explorer and writer Jacques-Antoine Moerenhout, who visited the Tahitian islands in the early 19th century. In his book "Voyages aux Îles du Grand Océan" (Voyages to the Islands of the Great Ocean), published in 1837, Moerenhout mentions a woman named Maiana who was a member of the Tahitian royal family.
Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who have borne the name Maiana. One such person was Maiana Nanisca (1820-1892), a Tahitian chieftain and warrior who led her people in battles against French colonial forces in the late 19th century. She was renowned for her bravery and leadership in defending her homeland.
Another notable Maiana was Maiana Kaiulani (1875-1899), who was a member of the Hawaiian royal family. She was the heir apparent to the Hawaiian throne and played an important role in advocating for Hawaiian sovereignty and independence during the overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy in the late 19th century.
In the realm of literature, Maiana Deri (1934-2007) was a renowned Tahitian poet and writer who played a significant role in preserving and promoting the Tahitian language and culture through her works. Her poetry often explored themes of identity, tradition, and the natural beauty of the Tahitian islands.
In the world of music, Maiana Fa'avāra'a (1958-) is a celebrated Tahitian singer and songwriter who has been instrumental in popularizing Tahitian music and dance on a global scale. Her music blends traditional Tahitian rhythms and melodies with contemporary influences, creating a unique and captivating sound.
Maiana Giordana (1972-), an Italian actress and model, has also made a name for herself in the entertainment industry. She has appeared in numerous films, television shows, and stage productions, showcasing her versatility as a performer.
People
Maiana + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Maiana as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with M
Other first names starting with M with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Maiana: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Maiana?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 143 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Maiana going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 2,396,883 US residents.
Is Maiana a common name?
We classify Maiana as "Very Rare". It ranks above 69.6% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 144 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Maiana most popular?
The single biggest year for Maiana was 2021, when 15 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Maiana is about 9 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Maiana in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Maiana a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Maiana in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Is Maiana still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Maiana in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Maiana can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many people share the name Maiana?
Find out how many people share the name Maiana on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org — a quick modern estimate with the living-bearer count front and centre.