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.
How to spell Maeve
The standard spelling is Maeve. Common variants include Medb, Méabh, but Maeve is the most widely used form.
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, 1880–2025. Reviewed July 2026. 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
See Maeve from another angle
By meaning
By style
Common questions
- What does the name Maeve mean?
- 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.
- What does Maeve mean in Irish?
- In Irish, Maeve means "She who intoxicates." 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.
- How do you pronounce Maeve?
- Maeve is pronounced meɪv. Say it as MAEVE, with the stress on the "maeve" syllable.
- How do you spell Maeve?
- The standard spelling is Maeve. Common spelling variants include Medb, Méabh.
- Is Maeve a boy or girl name?
- Maeve is traditionally a feminine name.
- How popular is the name Maeve?
- Maeve ranked #76 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.