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"
"song, tune, music"
"flower name, antha suffix"
"wisdom, wise one"
"new"
"one who listens"
"pearl"
"oarsman"
"star of the sea"
"race of women"
"the loved one"
"bright, shining light"
"charm, elegance"
"rival, striving"
"divine, heavenly"
"Magnol's flower, magnificent bloom"
"cheerful settlement"
"pleasant, sweet"
"woman from Magdala; high tower"
"life, living"
"merciful, gracious"
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.