Maya sits next to 4 phonetic neighbors — Mia, Kaia, and Aya are the closest matches by sound. Most share Maya's Indian-origin cluster, so the rhythm and vowel shape carry across the list.
You searched for names like
"water"
"God has favored me"
"goddess of the rainbow, messenger of the gods"
"hardworking; labor strength"
"all, completely"
"hay meadow"
"bright, shining one"
"grace, divine favor"
"golden light"
"island"
"flower, blossom"
"beginning, origin, creation"
"breath, to breathe"
"most holy"
"of the Julian family (Gens Julia)"
"young ceremonial attendant"
"strength, valor"
"burnt meadow, charred clearing"
"graceful, beautiful"
"seller of scarlet cloth"
Similar sound: These names share phonetic patterns with Maya — similar vowel sounds, consonant clusters, or rhythm.
Shared roots: Several names on this list have Hebrew origins, giving them the same cultural heritage as Maya.
Rhythm: Maya is a 2-syllable name. Names with the same syllable count tend to feel interchangeable when you're narrowing your list.