Maeve
Maeve Origin and Meaning
Maeve is a short and sweet name that has become one of the most stylish Irish names for girls in the modern US. Maeve would make an excellent first or middle name choice, with more heft than Mae/May and more modern charm than Mavis.
Maeve appears in Irish mythology in two forms, one as the powerful Queen of Connacht, the other as the queen of the fairies. Maeve of Connacht was a warrior queen, famous for starting a war in attempt to steal her ex-husband’s stud bull. Other spellings are Meabh, Medb and Meadhbh, which are connected to mead, a honey-based wine that was produced in many ancient cultures.
Chris O'Donnell, Lili Taylor and Kathryn Erbe used Maeve for their daughters. The Irish author Maeve Binchy also is a well-known bearer. Maeve is the name of one of the lead characters on the HBO show Westworld.
Irish spelling Meabh is popular in Ireland, but not recommended in the US.
Maeve Rank in US Top 1000
Maeve Rank in Nameberry Top 1000
Maeve Popularity
- 104US2022
- 2Nameberry2024
- 197Future2028
- 77England2021
- 40Scotland2023
- 80Ireland2023
- 48Australia2022
- 25New Zealand2023
- 20Netherlands2023
- 64Canada2022
20 Names Similar to Maeve
Freya Mae Ivy Hazel Elodie Eloise Iris Wren Ophelia Mabel Imogen Maisie Isla Juniper Nora Luna Genevieve Eleanor Willa Cora
Famous People Named Maeve
- (Anne) Maeve BinchyIrish novelist
- Maeve BrennanIrish novelist
- Maeve DermodyAustralian actress
- Maeve Geraldine FortBritish diplomat
- Maeve Patricia Mary Theresa GilmoreBritish painter; wife of author Mervyn Peake
- Maeve HigginsIrish comedienne
- Maeve KinkeadAmerican soap opera actress
- Maeve Anne QuinlanAmerican actress
- Maeve Fahey Kennedy Townsend (b. 1979)daughter of politician Kathleen Kennedy Townsend; granddaughter of politician Robert F. Kennedy
- Maeve Elsbeth Erbe Kinney (b. 1995)daughter of actors Terry Kinney and Kathryn Erbe
- Maeve Frances O'Donnell (b. 2007)daughter of actor Chris O'Donnell
- Maeve TaylorFlynn (b. 2008), daughter of actress Lili Taylor and poet Nick Flynn
- Maeve Thea Rosa (b. 2017)daughter of YouTubers Tara and Mandi Rosa of Living Rosa; twin of sister Everett Lux
- Maev Alexander (born Maev Alexandra Reid McConnell)Scottish actress
- Maev Ni MhaolchathaIrish singer of group Celtic Woman
Maeve in Pop Culture
- Maevequeen of Connaught in Irish mythology
- Maevecharacter on TV's Make It Or Break It
- Maevecharacter in Dustlands series by Moira Young
- Maeve Colleary Ryancharacter on American soap Ryan's Hope
- Maeve Donovanformer girlfriend of Dr. Spencer Reid on Criminal Minds
- MaeveCeltic sorceress on TV show The Adventures of Sinbad
- Maeve Millaycharacter on TV series Westworld
- Maeve Jacqueline Kelly CorriganQueen of Beldain, character in "The Young Elites" book series by Marie Lu
- Queen Maevemain antagonist of Sarah J. Maas's book series "Throne of Glass"
- Maeve Wileycharacter on TV's Sex Education
- Maeve Rojascharacter in "One of Us is Lying" by Karen McManus