Published on September 1st, 2020
Check out SneakPeek Gender Test to find out your baby’s gender as early as 6 weeks with over 99% accuracy!

When you find out that you’re pregnant, your mind becomes a whirl of emotions, excitement, and, of course, questions. After all, you can’t wait to learn more about the baby growing inside you!
Just like you, parents have been wondering about their growing child for thousands of years. Parents have tried various traditions and rituals to learn more about their unborn baby. They threw bones in the fire, dangled rings over bellies with the ring gender test, and even examined the types of pregnant belly shapes—some still do! Perhaps you’ve even heard of the Chinese Gender Predictor Chart or dabbled in pregnancy astrology to get insight on your little one before they arrive, but have you learned about how the ancient Maya predicted the gender of their unborn baby?
The Maya might have just taken a look at their calendars to guess their baby’s gender.
A Mayan calendar gender test has recently surged in the world of expectant parents. But who were the Maya? And how does the Mayan gender predictor method work? How accurate is it? Find out with this guide.
Who are the Mayan?
Located across Mexico and Central America, the Mayans are an indigenous people known for their rich and advanced ancient civilization. Descendants of the Mayans are still alive and well today, keeping vital aspects of this ancient culture thriving. Dating back to 7,000 BCE, this society is known for some of the world’s earliest advancements including: the concept of zero, astounding feats in astronomy, and architectural marvels.
Pregnancy and childbirth in the Mayan civilization
One thing archaeology, anthropology, and history can say about the ancient (and modern) Mayan? Pregnancy and childbirth are exceptionally important in the Mayan culture. Here are a few fascinating facts about Mayan practices when it comes to childbirth:
- The Importance of Midwives – In today’s Mayan families, midwives are extremely revered. The Mayan midwife combines obstetric and spiritual expertise in her care for women undergoing pregnancy.
- Babies and Social Status – In both past and present Mayan cultures, the birth of a child is considered a vital milestone for the community and the parents. A firstborn child elevated the social status of a family, while childbirth was seen as a pregnant woman’s rite of passage into womanhood.
- Reading the Signs – A Mayan midwife helps prepare the parent for birth, facilitates the delivery, and interprets signs at a child’s birth. Some Mayan midwives may also make predictions about the parents’ future children by looking at their first child’s umbilical cord. Other Mayan midwives believed they could predict a newborn’s future profession, successes, and dangers. Some of which include:
- Babies born with a cowlick will find wealth
- A midwife-to-be might be born with a bit of the amniotic membrane over her head.
This incredible civilization certainly made its mark in human history. But how does the Mayan gender prediction chart fit into its rich achievements? And how is it used in today’s society? Let’s dive in.
How to use the Mayan calendar gender prediction method
If you’re trying to discover how to know baby gender without an ultrasound, you might want to turn to ancient methods. The Mayan civilization was an extraordinary one-but even in the most advanced ancient societies, parents still wondered about their unborn children. Fast-forward to today—in recent years, parents have tried what’s called the Mayan calendar gender prediction method to learn more about their soon-to-be son or daughter. Very similar to the Chinese gender calendar, the Mayan gender calendar uses integral calendar dates to determine the gender. Here’s how it’s done:
- Step 1 – Take the age of the parent at conception
- Step 2 -Figure out the conception month and its representative calendar number-for example, if a baby was conceived in March, the number would be 3
- Step 3: Take a look at the two numbers. Now comes the baby gender prediction: If both numbers are even or odd – It’s a baby girl! If just one number is odd and the other is even – It’s a baby boy!
Let’s walk through this with an example. Let’s say the parent is 34 when the child is conceived.
So we have our first number: 34.
Next, determine the conception month. The parent knows that her baby was conceived in June, or the sixth month of the year.
We have our second number, 6.
Put them both together and we have 34 and 6. Since both numbers are even, this method predicts a baby girl.
If, instead, the baby was conceived in July, the numbers would be 34 and 7. Since one number is odd and the other is even, the method predicts a baby boy will be bouncing your way.
The accuracy of the Mayan calendar gender prediction method
There’s no scientific evidence that the (alleged) Mayan gender prediction method can accurately predict the gender of a child. At most, the method shares the gender prediction accuracy rate of flipping a coin, 50%.
The conception month and the parents’ age don’t affect a baby’s gender. With numerous gender prediction tools available, you don’t have to wait for an ultrasound or reference an ancient Mayan pregnancy calendar to find accurate gender results.
The Mayan gender predictor: Cultural practice or trendy topic?
It’s not hard to believe that the Maya —a culture that prized math and the stars—might look to calendars to discover an unborn baby’s gender. However, scholarly research hasn’t led to definitive conclusions about Mayan gender prediction methods. It’s more likely that this baby gender prediction method was born out of an urban legend than any anthropological or archaeological evidence. One reason this method may be more fiction than fact? The Mayan calendar itself.
Or should we say, calendars?
The Mayans used multiple calendar systems, each with their own unique purpose. The four most well-known ones are: the Haab calendar, the sacred Tzolk’in calendar, the Calendar Round, and the Long Count calendar.
The Mayan calendar system is complex, intricate, and sacred. Which begs the question: why does this “Mayan” calendar gender prediction method rely on the month numbers of a Gregorian calendar instead of one of the many vital Mayan calendar cycles?
It would be fair to guess that this Mayan calendar gender prediction method may be more of an old wives’ tale and a fun way to guess a baby’s gender than an ancient obstetrical ritual.
The Mayan gender predictor 2025 vs other gender prediction methods
The Mayan gender prediction method sets itself apart from other gender determination theories due to its ancient cultural origins and unique calculation approach. Unlike modern medical techniques, which rely on scientific equipment, the Mayan method uses integral calendar dates and the pregnant person’s age at conception to predict the baby’s gender. This traditional approach may hold sentimental value for some expectant parents, but it lacks scientific evidence supporting its accuracy.
Beyond the Mayan gender prediction method, expectant parents have explored various gender determination theories throughout history. Some of the most popular ones include:
- Nub Theory: This theory analyzes the angle of the genital tubercle in early ultrasound images to predict the baby’s gender. Different angles suggest different genders.
- Chinese Gender Chart: An ancient Chinese calendar based on the pregnant person’s age and the month of conception. It claims to predict the baby’s gender with high accuracy.
- Ramzi Theory: This method examines the location of the placenta in early ultrasound images to determine the baby’s gender. Depending on the side of the uterus, it predicts the gender.
- Skull Theory: This method analyzes the shape and characteristics of the baby’s skull in ultrasound images. It suggests that certain skull features may indicate the baby’s gender.
While the Mayan gender prediction method adds cultural charm to the anticipation of a baby’s gender, parents have a variety of options to explore when it comes to determining their baby’s gender with confidence.
Get accurate results with the SneakPeek early gender DNA test
Just like the Mayan, and millions of other parents-to-be throughout human history, you can’t wait to know more about your child. And with the SneakPeek Early Gender DNA Test, you can learn your child’s gender sooner than ever before.
This at-home baby gender blood test is the only one that can be taken as early as 6 weeks into pregnancy, weeks earlier than your gender reveal ultrasound. Here’s how it works:
- Order a kit from the SneakPeek website or find where to purchase a SneakPeek test near you.
- Follow the instructions in the kit to take the test. Once it’s ready, mail back your DNA sample using the prepaid packaging included in your order.
- After SneakPeek Labs receives your sample, you’ll be emailed the happy news soon!
As for accuracy, the SneakPeek Early Gender DNA Test has the Mayan method beat by miles (and millenia)—clinical studies have shown the SneakPeek Early Gender DNA test is over 99% accurate1.
If there’s one thing to learn from the Mayan—although there is plenty to learn—it’s that each day is sacred. And that’s especially true throughout pregnancy and parenting. You’ll never forget the moment you found out you’re pregnant, the way you shared it with friends and family, or the day you learned your baby’s gender—and that day can come even sooner with The SneakPeek Early Gender DNA Test.
Editorial Policy
At SneakPeek, our commitment is to provide accurate, up-to-date, and reliable information to empower our readers. Our content is thoroughly researched, reviewed by medical experts, and fact-checked to ensure its credibility. We prioritize the well-being and education of our readers, and our editorial policy adheres to the highest standards of integrity and accuracy in all our articles.
This post has been reviewed for accuracy by the following medical professional:
Katie Smith is a seasoned Certified Nurse Midwife and a nurturing mother to six children, offering a unique blend of professional expertise and personal experience. She is the founder of Birth Your Way Midwifery and Women’s Wellness Center in Bay County, Florida. Katie's comprehensive approach to care is informed by her hands-on experience in motherhood and her passion for empowering women through their birthing journey. Her dedication extends beyond her center as she actively engages in community wellness and family health education.
Sources:
- Canadian Museum of History. Maya Civilization. https://www.historymuseum.ca/cmc/exhibitions/civil/maya/mmc05eng.html
- The Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian. The Maya People. https://maya.nmai.si.edu/the-maya/maya-people
- The Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian. The Maya Calendar System. https://maya.nmai.si.edu/calendar/calendar-system
- Stanford University. the Maya midwife as sacred specialist: a Guatemalan case. https://anthrosource.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1525/ae.1975.2.4.02a00080
- National Geographic. Top Ten Maya Secrets. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/top-10/maya-secrets/
- International Journal of Pregnancy and Childbirth. https://medcraveonline.com/IPCB/IPCB-05-00164