Maeve
Maeve, Meave, Maev or Maiv, Maiev, Mabh ( mayv) is a female given name of Irish origin. It comes from the Irish name Méabh, which was spelt Meadhbh or Maedhbh in Early Modern Irish, Meḋḃ or Meaḋḃ in Middle Irish, and Medb in Old Irish. It may derive from a word meaning "she who intoxicates", "mead-woman", or alternatively "she who rules".
- Irish
- English
- Irish Mythology
Meaning & Origin of Maeve
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Maeve, Meave, Maev or Maiv, Maiev, Mabh ( mayv) is a female given name of Irish origin. It comes from the Irish name Méabh, which was spelt Meadhbh or Maedhbh in Early Modern Irish, Meḋḃ or Meaḋḃ in Middle Irish, and Medb in Old Irish. It may derive from a word meaning "she who intoxicates", "mead-woman", or alternatively "she who rules".
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
Cultural Origins (via Behind the Name)
- Irish
- English
- Irish Mythology
The Story of Maeve
American parents first put Maeve on the record books as a baby girl name in 1940, with 8 registered babies. Its peak popularity came in 2026, when 3,533 Maeves were born — ranking #62 that year. The 2020s were its strongest decade, accounting for roughly 59% of all recorded Maeves. In the latest 2026 data it stands at #62 among baby girl names with 3,533 births, rising sharply (+123% over the past five years). In total, more than 33K Maeves have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1940s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Variants & Related Forms of Maeve
Foreign forms, alternate spellings, and nicknames that share roots with Maeve. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
- Mave
- Meadhbh
- Meave
- Medb
Notable people named Maeve
A small selection from Wikipedia. Tap "Read more" below to see the full list on Wikipedia.
- Maeve Binchy (1940–2012), Irish writer
- Maeve Brennan (1917–1993), Irish short story writer and journalist
- Maeve Dermody (born 1985), Australian actress
- Maeve Fort (1940–2008), British diplomat
- Maeve Gilmore (1917–1983), British artist and wife of Mervyn Peake
- Maeve Harris (born 1976), American abstract painter
- Maeve Higgins (born 1981), Irish comedian
- Maeve Hillery (née Finnegan), retired Irish doctor, the widow of Patrick Hillery, President of Ireland 1976–90
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
Names that sound like Maeve
Phonetically similar names — useful when Maeve is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.
Frequently Asked Questions about Maeve
What does the name Maeve mean?
What is the origin of the name Maeve?
How popular is Maeve in 2026?
When was Maeve most popular?
In which U.S. states is Maeve most popular?
Is Maeve a unisex name?
What names go well with Maeve?
What are nicknames or variants of Maeve?
About the name Maeve
Maeve is a girl baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1940 and has accumulated 33K births in the dataset. Maeve's peak popularity came in 2026 when it ranked #62. Use the chart and map above to compare Maeve's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 2026 →
- Names of the 2020s →
- Names starting with "M" →
- Browse all girl names →
- Top names of 2026 →
Data sources
- Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
- Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
- Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
- Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
- Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .
Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.