Mayan Calendar Gender Prediction

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, and even examined the shape of a pregnant woman’s belly—some still do!

But the Maya might have just taken a look at their calendars to guess the gender of their babies.

A Mayan calendar gender test has recently surged in the world of expectant mums and dads. 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 Maya?

Located across Mexico and Central America, the Maya are an indigenous people known for their rich and advanced ancient civilization. Descendants of these Maya 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 scientific advancements including:

• The Concept of Zero – Today, the idea of zero as a placeholder and expression of “no value” seems elementary—as in, we learn about it in elementary school. But zero is an essential aspect in math, physics, architecture, and many fields of science. The Maya were one of the first cultures to invent and utilize zero 2,000 years ago—long before the famous mathematicians of ancient Greece.
• Architectural Marvels – The Egyptians weren’t the only ones accomplishing architectural feats in the ancient world. Maya pyramids were ornate and incredibly steep structures—some are still standing even today. The oldest known Maya pyramid was built over 3,000 years ago. Imagine the mastery of engineering and physics required to create a structure that outlasts millenia.
• Astounding Astronomers – Maya astronomy was so advanced they even built structures to highlight astronomical events. Maya architects and astronomers designed buildings to cast shadows in specific patterns according to equinoxes and solstices. For example, El Caracol, the famous ancient Maya observatory, aligns with the sun’s position during the sunrise of the summer solstice and the sunset of the winter solstice.

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 Maya 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 calendar uses integral calendar dates to determine the gender. Here’s how it’s done:

• Take the age of the mother at conception
• Figure out the conception month and its representative calendar number—for example, if a baby was conceived in March, the number would be 3

Take a look at the two numbers. Now comes the baby gender prediction:

• If both numbers are even or odd – It’s a girl!
• If just one number is odd and the other is even – It’s a boy!

Let’s walk through this with an example. Let’s say the mum is 34 when the child is conceived.

So we have our first number: 34.

The mother 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 Maya Calendar Gender Prediction: 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 Maya calendar itself.

Or should we say, calendars?

The Maya used multiple calendar systems, each with their own unique purpose. The four most well-known ones are:

• The Haab – The Haab calendar marks the solar year of 365 days—similar to the calendar we use today, the Gregorian calendar. The Haab is divided into nineteen months, 18 of those months lasts for 20 days. Wayab, the nineteenth month, just lasts for 5 days. This calendar was used in the same way we use ours—to make plans, celebrate holidays, and most importantly, to guide agricultural practices like planting and harvesting.
• The Tzolk’in – The Maya’s sacred calendar, Tzolk’in, is divided into 260 unique and sacred days. It’s also related to the movement of the sun’s zenith and the growing cycle of corn, one of the Maya’s most important agricultural products.
• Calendar Round – This calendar cycle combines the Tzolk’in cycle and the Haab. With these interwoven calendar systems, any combination of a Tzolk’in day with a Haab day will not repeat itself until 52 cycles of 365 days have passed. Stemming from this, the Maya believed that once someone has reached their 52nd birthday, they receive special wisdom.
• The Long Count – Think of the Maya Long Count calendar as an epic historical calendar. Any historical or mythical event spanning more than 52 years was tracked using the Long Count calendar, starting with the Maya mythical creation date.

The Maya 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 Maya 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.

Fun Facts about the Mayan, Pregnancy, and Childbirth

One thing archaeology, anthropology, and history can say about the ancient (and modern) Maya? Pregnancy and childbirth are exceptionally important in the Maya culture. Here are a few fascinating facts about Maya practices when it comes to childbirth:

• The Importance of Midwives – In today’s Maya families, midwives are extremely revered. The Maya midwife combines obstetric and spiritual expertise in her care for women undergoing pregnancy.
• Babies and Social Status – In both past and present Maya 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 Maya midwife helps prepare the mother for birth, facilitates the delivery, and interprets signs at a child’s birth. Some Maya midwives may also make predictions about the mother’s future children by looking at her first child’s umbilical cord. Other Maya 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.

The Accuracy of the Maya 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 mother’s 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.

How is the Mayan Gender Prediction Method different from other 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 mother’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. While the Mayan method offers a glimpse into the cultural practices of the past, parents can rely on advanced scientific technologies for precise and dependable gender results.

The Top Gender Determination Theories

Beyond the Mayan gender prediction method, expectant parents have explored various gender determination theories throughout history. Some of the most popular ones include:

1. 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.
2. Chinese Gender Chart: An ancient Chinese calendar based on the mother’s age and the month of conception. It claims to predict the baby’s gender with high accuracy.
3. 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.
4. 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 Maya, 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 can be taken as early as 6 weeks into pregnancy. Here’s how it works:

• Order a kit from the SneakPeek website.
• 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 Maya 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 Maya—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, MSN, APRN, CNM

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