Maeve

At a Glance: Name: Maeve – Meaning: intoxicating / she who intoxicates – Origin: Irish (Anglicized form of Medb/Meadhbh) – Gender: Girl – Pronunciation: MAYV

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Maeve is an Irish girl's name, an Anglicized form of Medb (also spelled Meadhbh), pronounced MAYV. Its meaning is "intoxicating" or "she who intoxicates," giving it real linguistic roots rather than an invented sound. It's both a timeless classic and a worldly name, fitting parents drawn to something classic with roots outside the everyday.

Meaning & Origin of Maeve

Meaning: Intoxicating / she who intoxicates.

Origin: Irish (Anglicized form of Medb/Meadhbh).

Source: Wiktionary.

How to Pronounce Maeve

Phonetic: MAYV   IPA: /ˈmeɪv/

Popularity of Maeve

Maeve reached its recent peak at #73 in 2023 with 3,057 babies given the name, then slipped slightly to #75 in 2024 even as the count rose to 3,098 — SSA records for the name go back to 1940.

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration birth-name data, 1940–2024.

Make Maeve Name Art

Free printable nursery art for Maeve, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.

Names With a Similar Story

Derived from shared style, era, and origin data (or, for names we have no style data for, a similar Social Security popularity trajectory) — not a hand-picked list.

• Brigid
• Erin
• Tara
• Aiden
• Ailish
• Brendan

FAQ

What does the name Maeve mean?

Intoxicating / she who intoxicates. (Source: Wiktionary, https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Maeve)

How do you pronounce Maeve?

Maeve is pronounced MAYV (IPA: /ˈmeɪv/).

Is Maeve a popular name right now?

Maeve is near its all-time peak (#73 in 2023), ranked #75 in 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1940–2024.)

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