Is there meaning in the name Miyah?

Question

I named my daughter Miyah. I wanted to take her name back to times when names meant something. I joined the poetic form of the Creator's Name (Yahweh/YHWH). I've been doing name research lately to dig at things. I see many definitions for the name pronounced mee-ah but nothing for how I pronounce my daughter's name: mI-yah.

Answer 1

I know the OP is no longer around the site (at least by the name JLUV), but I thought I'd add this.

The name Mee-yah could well be used to signify that the child is from G-d. The "Mee" at the beginning means "from", and the "yah" ending is one of G-d's names (or more like an abbreviation of G-d's name). The ending is prominent in many Jewish names (anyone should feel free to add to this short list):

Eliyah (a shortened form of Eliyahu, both of which are Anglicized to Elijah)
Tuvyah/Tovyah/Tuvia (among other spellings, rendered Tobias in Greek/English)
Yirmiyah/Yirmiyahu (Jeremiah)
Shmaryah
Oriyah
Yeshayah/Yeshayahu (Isaiah)

I know the OP was looking for meaning in the other pronunciation, but this is to encourage the more natural pronunciation because of its significant meaning, which seems to resonate so well with the OP.

Answer 2

JLUV, there is no rule on how precise names need to be in their expressions. Take the name cited by Shalom- "Shmuel". The word is partially acronymized-the Sh comes from the word she'iltihu- I requested him; the M comes from the contracted prefix meaning from; E-l means G-d. The vowel U following the M has no place in the meaning.

In your case, if you meant to express a relationship between your Daughter and G-d, Miyah is a fine name.

Answer 3

If I understand the question correctly, you're seeking a meaning of the name Miyah, pronounced maj.a (essentially like the Indian tribe's name, so as to rhyme with the greeting hiya), in Hebrew.

I can't think of any in Hebrew, but מיא is pronounced roughly like that and means "water" in Aramaic.

Answer 4

If I understand correctly, your intention was for your daughter's name to mean "from G-d"?

Traditional Jewish practice is in fact not to pronounce the four-letter name above. It's considered too holy for us to say. When it appears in Torah reading or prayer books, it is instead pronounced "Adonoi", meaning "master of me and all."

So I'm afraid you'll find little help here on how your daughter's name should be pronounced.

If you'd like to ask which traditional Hebrew names mean something similar (for instance, "Samuel" means "asked from God", or the girl's name Netanya means "God gave"), we'd be happy to try and help you.

Good luck!