ChatGPT
Claude
Gemini
Perplexity
The short answer
Maeve is a feminine Irish name, the Anglicized form of Medb, meaning "intoxicating". In Irish legend, Maeve was a warrior queen of Connacht who, with her husband Ailill, fought against the Ulster king Conchobar and the hero Cúchulainn in the epic The Cattle Raid of Cooley. It is pronounced MAYV. In the United States it ranked #76 for girls in 2025.
Meaning and etymology
Behind the Name gives Maeve as the "Anglicized form of the Irish name Medb meaning 'intoxicating'". In Irish legend, it says, "this was the name of a warrior queen of Connacht. She and her husband Ailill fought against the Ulster king Conchobar and the hero Cúchulainn, as told in the Irish epic The Cattle Raid of Cooley."
Editorial confidence: established
Linguistic roots
| Language | Form | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Old Irish | Medb | intoxicating |
Popularity
Maeve ranked #76 for girls in the United States in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.
| Region | Year | Rank | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 2025 | #76 | ssa-2025 |
Nicknames, variants, and related names
Nicknames: None documented.
Variants: Méabh, Meadhbh, Mave, Meave, Maève
Related names: None documented.
What the name feels like
Maeve is a short, strong-sounding Irish mythological name that has become a fashionable choice in the current wave of Celtic revival names, standing out for its single syllable among longer peers.
Style tags: Irish mythology, vintage revival, one syllable
Editorial interpretation: This style read is editorial judgment, not linguistic fact.
If you like this name
Names that share Maeve's Irish mythological roots or its short, strong sound.
Similar by origin
Similar by sound
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Maeve mean?
Maeve means "intoxicating". It is the Anglicized form of the Irish name Medb.
Is Maeve a mythological name?
Yes. In Irish legend, Maeve (Medb) was a warrior queen of Connacht who, with her husband Ailill, fought the Ulster king Conchobar and the hero Cúchulainn in the epic The Cattle Raid of Cooley.
Is Maeve a popular name?
Yes. Maeve ranked #76 among girls' names in the United States in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.
Sources
- Behind the Name: Meaning, origin and history of the name Maeve — supports etymology, history, pronunciation, variants.
- U.S. Social Security Administration: Popular Baby Names — national data, year of birth 2025 — supports popularity.
