How is MY uh for Maya bad? That's how we say it here, as a name and the tribe from the Yucatan Peninsula. Or is Maia not pronounced that way where you are?
Generally in Australia, at least in my experience, Maya is pronounced MAY-ə and Maia is pronounced MY-ə. I have known two Mayas pronounced that way and one Maia pronounced like that. So I thought it was confusing when I met a Maya pronounced MY-ə. That's all I meant.