Maia

Maia is a name with mythological, astronomical, and cultural significance. In Greek mythology, Maia is the eldest of the seven Pleiades sisters, daughters of Atlas and Pleione. She is best known as the mother of Hermes (Mercury) by Zeus, and she is associated with spring, growth, and nurturing in various myths and later literary traditions.

In astronomy, Maia is the name of one of the stars in the Pleiades star cluster, located in the constellation Taurus. The cluster lies in the northern sky and is visible to the naked eye under dark skies. Maia itself is one of the brighter stars within the cluster, which lies at a distance of roughly 440 light-years from Earth.

Maia is also a feminine given name used in many languages, drawing on its mythological and celestial associations. The name has numerous variants, including Maya and Maja, and appears in literature, film, and contemporary usage around the world.

Beyond myth and naming, Maia appears in various cultural contexts as a proper noun or character name, reflecting the enduring influence of the figure and the star. The term encapsulates themes of motherhood, brightness, and spring across different traditions.