Boy · Sanskrit · Hindu
Maitreya
मैत्रेयSay it my-TRAY-yuh
- Meaning today
- Friendly, loving kindness
- Original meaning
- "friendly, benevolent; name of a sage and of the future Buddha" Monier-Williams, p. 834
- Say it
- my-TRAY-yuh
- Written
- मैत्रेय
- Other spellings
- Maitrey
Maitreya
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Maitreya meaning
Maitreya (मैत्रेय) is a Hindu boy's name of Sanskrit origin.
Friendly, benevolent; name of a sage and of the future Buddha
Also used to mean: loving kindness
Maitreya (मैत्रेय) comes from Sanskrit maitrī, "friendship, goodwill", and mitra, "friend". Monier-Williams gives the adjective as friendly or benevolent, and records Maitreya as a patronymic borne by several men, including the sage Maitreya Kausharava, and as the name of the Bodhisattva who Buddhists believe will be the next Buddha. In Hindu tradition the sage Maitreya is the listener to whom Parashara tells the Vishnu Purana. Name lists give "friendly" or "loving kindness", which matches the dictionary. Maitreyi is the related name for girls.
Source: Monier-Williams, Sanskrit–English Dictionary (1899), p. 834 · entry maitreya · See the entry · checked 25 Oct 2026
References: Monier-Williams, maitreya, p. 834 · Wikipedia, Maitreya · Wikipedia, Vishnu Purana
Famous namesakes
- Maitreya, the sage to whom Parashara narrates the Vishnu Purana
- Maitreya, the future Buddha of Buddhist tradition
Fits your syllable
First sound मै
Magha nakshatra, pada 4 · Simha rashi
This exact sound isn't in the table; the closest is मे, which differs only in vowel length. North Indian table. Tables vary by region and family tradition, so confirm with your priest.
Spellings
Maitreya · Maitrey