Maja

Maja is a feminine name used across Slavic and Germanic languages, functioning primarily as a form of Maya or Maria depending on the regional tradition. In Scandinavian and Central European contexts it is closely tied to the month of May and the Roman goddess Maia, whose name is thought to derive from Latin meaning great or mother. The name gained broad popularity throughout Europe in the twentieth century, carried in part by the fame of figures such as the Swedish author Selma Lagerlöf, whose full name was Selma Ottiliana Lovisa Lagerlöf but whose nickname Maja spread familiarly. Related forms include Maia, Maya, and Maria.