Meabh
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".
Meaning & Origin of Meabh
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 →
The Story of Meabh
Meabh first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby girl name in 1999, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2020, when 10 Meabhs were born — ranking #9,543 that year. As of 2026, Meabh ranks #12,120 for baby girls with 7 births, holding steady (+0%). In total, more than 61 Meabhs have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1990s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Notable people named Meabh
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 Meabh
Phonetically similar names — useful when Meabh is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
- Mebe
- Mob
- Meep
- Mab
- Moob
- Mabe
- Mayb
- Mobe
- Meb
- Mub
- Meap
- Mib
Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.
Frequently Asked Questions about Meabh
What does the name Meabh mean?
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About the name Meabh
Meabh is a girl baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1999 and has accumulated 61 births in the dataset. Meabh's peak popularity came in 2020 when it ranked #9,543. Use the chart and map above to compare Meabh's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 2020 →
- 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.