How to say it
MAEVE
/meɪv/
Feminine
Maeve
She who intoxicates
What it means
Anglicized form of Irish Medb, 'she who intoxicates' or 'cause of great joy.' Queen Medb of Connacht is one of the central figures of the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology.
Maeve is the anglicization of the Old Irish Medb, from a root meaning 'mead, intoxicating drink' (by extension, 'she who intoxicates'). Queen Medb of Connacht is the antagonist of the Táin Bó Cúailnge, the great cattle-raid epic of Irish literature; she's powerful, ruthless, and unforgettable. The name barely registered in US records before 2000 and has climbed steeply since, part of the broader Celtic-name revival alongside Liam, Owen, and Niamh. One syllable, no nickname needed.
Popularity over time
peaked at #73 in 2023, currently #76 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–present. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Pronunciation
One syllable, MAYV (rhymes with 'wave'). Not MAY-vee or MOH-vah.
Who's worn it
Historical figures, characters, and public faces who share the name. The cultural surface, for whatever weight you want to give it.
- Queen Medb of Connacht Central figure of the Ulster Cycle, Irish mythology
- Maeve Binchy Irish novelist, Circle of Friends and Tara Road
- Maeve (Westworld) Thandiwe Newton's character in the HBO series
Spelling variants
- Medb
- Méabh
Names with the same feeling
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