[name]Hi[/name] everyone I’m expecting a girl and need some help deciding on a name. I’m really liking [name]Serena[/name] and [name]Maia[/name] [MY-UH] right now. They both sound somewhat exotic and uncommon without being weird. Which of these two names do you prefer and why? Also, please include some middle name suggestions for both. Thank you.
[name]Maia[/name] is actually fairly popular right now if you check the SSA it’s in the top 100. Not that it matters, just wanted to share. I know a few [name]Serena[/name]'s and they seem to like their names. I prefer [name]Maia[/name] to [name]Serena[/name] personally.
I prefer [name]Maia[/name].
I prefer [name]Maia[/name] too =)
I like both, but I vote for [name]Maia[/name].
[name]Maia[/name] is lovely
I prefer [name]Serena[/name], it is under used and not as popular as [name]Maia[/name], but it’s still beautiful
I like them both but I think I slightly prefer [name]Maia[/name]. There’s something kind of earthy and mystical there. And I like saying it. I would actually consider it except my dad’s dog is called [name]Maya[/name]. 
Weird name for a dog, I know. But it takes it off the table for me.
[name]Serena[/name] is also nice but it somehow lacks substance to me.
I think with their very different sounds, the surname would play a role in choosing between these two.
[name]Maia[/name] [name]Celeste[/name]
[name]Maia[/name] [name]Penelope[/name]
[name]Maia[/name] [name]Lark[/name]
[name]Maia[/name] [name]Claire[/name]
[name]Maia[/name] [name]Thessaly[/name]
[name]Maia[/name] [name]Rosalind[/name]
[name]Maia[/name] [name]Vivien[/name]
[name]Maia[/name] [name]Linnea[/name]
[name]Serena[/name] is beautiful, that’s my favorite of the two.
I prefer [name]Maia[/name] as well, [name]Serena[/name] has always felt a little harsh to me for some reason. [name]Do[/name] you have any family names you’d like to use in the middle?
[name]Maia[/name] [name]Delphine[/name]
[name]Maia[/name] [name]Beatrice[/name]
[name]Maia[/name] [name]Ione[/name]
[name]Maia[/name] [name]Seraphine[/name]
[name]Maia[/name] [name]Vivienne[/name]
[name]Maia[/name] [name]Corinne[/name]
[name]Maia[/name] [name]Juliette[/name]
[name]Maia[/name] [name]Odette[/name]
Good luck!
I like both a lot. My vote goes to [name]Serena[/name]. It is less common and seems like an underused gem of a name. It is pretty, elegant, classy, meaningful and etc.
[name]How[/name] about:
[name]Celina[/name]/[name]Selena[/name]
[name]Celeste[/name]
[name]Serenity[/name]
I vote for [name]Serena[/name]! I like [name]Maia[/name] too, but prefer the [name]Maya[/name] more common spelling so that it gets pronounces correctly. A little bit softer sounding is the lovely [name]Selena[/name] to consider.
They sound okay together, so if you don’t mind the double “a” sounds at the end, both why not:
[name]Serena[/name] [name]Maia[/name]
[name]Serena[/name] [name]Mai[/name]
[name]Maia[/name] [name]Serena[/name]
I love [name]Serena[/name]! I know a lot of little [name]Maya[/name]'s and I find the name pretty bland.
I prefer [name]Maia[/name], but it is pretty popular these days. At least where I am.
My vote is for [name]Serena[/name]. [name]Maia[/name]/[name]Maya[/name]/[name]Mya[/name] seem too popular.
Thanks for all the responses 
And to Kalebsmom, I’d like to honor my mother who’s name is [name]Annabelle[/name] or my great grandmother who is very dear to me and her name is [name]Maria[/name]. So wdyt of [name]Maia[/name] [name]Annabelle[/name]?? Idk about [name]Maia[/name] [name]Maria[/name]. It doesn’t sound right to me with the double M sound.
[name]Serena[/name] definitely has my vote! No contest for me. [name]Maia[/name]'s cute but it’s a little plain compared to [name]Serena[/name] in my opinion.
[name]Maia[/name] (Although I prefer the [name]Maya[/name] spelling…but [name]Maia[/name] and [name]Maya[/name] are both way better than [name]Mya[/name]…ugh.)
I prefer [name]Maia[/name], however I think the [name]Maya[/name] spelling is fairly easy to pronounce.
I definitely prefer [name]Serena[/name]… it seems very peaceful and lovely to me. I’m not a huge fan of [name]Maia[/name] in either spelling. It’s very popular where I am as well. And I definitely wouldn’t use [name]Maia[/name] [name]Maria[/name]. The names themselves are super similar. I think that any of the other combinations work quite well.