Maeve

Maeve is a female first name considered an anglicized form of the Old Irish Medb. Translated, the name means 'the intoxicating one', 'the one who causes drunkenness', or 'the source of great joy'.

What does the name Maeve mean?

The name Maeve, an anglicized variant of the Old Irish Medb, has a deeper meaning. It stands for 'the intoxicating one', 'the one who causes drunkenness', and 'the source of great joy'. The roots of the name lie in the Celtic word *medwos, which means 'intoxicating' or 'captivating'. In Irish mythology, particularly in the Ulster Cycle, Meḋḃ is the name of a queen and goddess of Connacht. Alternative spellings include Medb/Madb (Old Irish), Meadhbh (Middle Irish), Meabh/Méabh (Modern Irish), Méav/Meave (anglicized form), Meidhbhin, Mave, and Maven. The name became well-known through the legendary Queen Medb of Ireland, who is also depicted on the £1 banknote of Series B in Ireland.

Where does the name Maeve come from?

Maeve is a female first name with Celtic roots, meaning 'the intoxicating one'. The Celtic word *medwos consists of elements that stand for 'intoxicating' and 'captivating'. The languages in which Maeve appears are English and Irish.

How do you pronounce Maeve?

The pronunciation of Maeve is compact and monosyllabic. In German, the name is often pronounced in English as 'Meiw' [meɪ̯v]. The diphthong gives the name a dynamic, lively note, while the voiced final consonant provides a clear and firm closure. Its brevity radiates elegance and modernity, making Maeve sound confident and resonant.

When is the name day of Maeve?

The name day for Maeve is celebrated on November 22.

Popularity

In Germany, the name Maeve is quite popular. It currently ranks 727th in the list of the most common female first names. In the last ten years, Maeve has been given as a first name around 280 times, placing it 1,281st in the ten-year statistics. From 2010 to 2024, the name ranks 1,511th. Worldwide, Maeve is also widespread, and here are the latest rankings in the name charts of various countries.

Nicknames & pet names

Eve / Mae / Maevey / Maevus / Maiv / May / Moeve

Famous people

• Maeve Binchy (author)
• Maeve Brennan (Irish writer and journalist)
• Maeve Dermody (Australian actress)
• Maeve Gilmore (English artist)
• Maeve Harris (artist from the USA)
• Maeve Hillery (Irish physicist)
• Maeve Ingoldsby (Irish writer)
• Maeve Kelly (American writer)
• Maeve Kinkead (American actress)
• Maeve Kyle (Irish sprinter)
• Maeve Mackinnon (American singer)
• Maeve McGuire (actress from America)
• Maeve Murphy (English film director)
• Maeve O'Brien-Kelly (Irish writer)
• Maeve Oboyle (British singer)
• Maeve Odonovan (singer from Ireland)
• Maeve Quinlan (American actress)
• Maeve Tomalty (actress)