Mia (given name)
American actress Mia Farrow (born 1945), pictured in 1964. The name Mia increased in use following Farrow’s 1964 debut as Allison MacKenzie on the American television soap opera Peyton Place. | |
| Pronunciation | /ˈmaɪə/ MY-ə /ˈmiːə/ MEE-ə |
|---|---|
| Gender | Feminine |
| Origin | |
| Meaning | Diminutive of Maria |
| Other names | |
| Related names | Maia, Maja, Maya, Mea, Meah, Miah, Mya, Myah |
Mia is a feminine given name in popular use worldwide. It originated as a diminutive of Maria and other names such as Amelia and Emilia, and was rarely used as an independent given name prior to the 20th century.
The name is often confused with Maia and Maya, both of which can be derived from other sources. The name Mya, which also can be derived from multiple sources, has been used as a spelling variant of Mia as well as of Maya and Maia. The name Mia can also sometimes share the pronunciation MY-ə with the names Maia, Maya, and Mya, though it is more commonly pronounced MEE-ə, with a long e sound.