Maeve
Meaning of Maeve
Maeve, pronounced /meɪv/, descends from the Old Irish Medb—traditionally glossed as “intoxicating” or, in a broader royal sense, “she who rules”—and is indelibly linked to the formidable Queen of Connacht whose exploits dominate the Táin Bó Cúailnge; this deep mythological pedigree, coupled with the name’s spare phonemic structure, has proved attractive to Anglo-American parents who, since the early 1990s, have elevated Maeve from statistical obscurity to 3,098 recorded births and a national rank of 75 in the United States for 2024. Reinforcement from contemporary media, ranging from university syllabi on Celtic epics to character portrayals in series such as “Westworld” and “Sex Education,” has further solidified associations with sovereignty, strategic intelligence, and controlled charisma. In consequence, Maeve now occupies a distinctive niche at the intersection of historical gravitas and modern stylistic economy, offering prospective parents a single-syllable designation that is simultaneously linguistically accessible, culturally textured, and emblematic of quiet strength.
Pronunciation
English
- Pronunced as mayv (/meɪv/)
U.S. Popularity Chart
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Notable People Named Maeve
| Maeve Binchy was a beloved Irish novelist known for warm, humorous portraits of small town life whose books sold over 40 million copies in 37 languages, and her 2012 death was widely mourned. |
| Maeve Kennedy McKean - Maeve Fahey Kennedy McKean was an American public health official, human rights attorney, and academic, a Kennedy family member and daughter of Maryland Lt. Governor Kathleen Kennedy Townsend and granddaughter of Senator Robert F. Kennedy. |
| Maeve Brennan was an Irish short story writer and journalist who moved to the United States in 1934 and became a key voice in Irish and diaspora literature, with published collections of articles, stories, and a novella. |
| Maeve Higgins is an Irish comedian and writer based in New York, known for the RTE series Naked Camera, her show Fancy Vittles, the essay collection We Have a Good Time, Dont We, the NPR quiz show Wait Wait Dont Tell Me, and the film Extra Ordinary. |
| Maeve McGuire is an American actress best known for playing Nicole Travis Drake on The Edge of Night from 1968 to 1974 and again from 1975 to 1977, as the character shifted from schemer to heroine before being recast. |
| Maeve Kyle was an Irish hockey international and pioneering track athlete who became Ireland's first female track and field Olympian, competed at three Olympics and the Commonwealth Games, and won the 1961 WAAA 440 yards. |
| Maeve Quinlan is an Irish American actress best known for her longtime role as Megan Conley on The Bold and the Beautiful, and for playing Paula Carlin on South of Nowhere and Constance Tate Duncan on 90210. |
| Maeve Donnelly is a leading Irish traditional fiddle player celebrated for her distinctive style. |
