Maeve

**Maeve** (also **Maev**; pronounced _MAY-V_, rhyming with _cave_) is a female given name of Irish origin. It is from the Irish name _Méabh_ (spelled _Meadhbh_ in early modern Irish and _Medb_ in old Irish). In Irish mythology, Medb was a queen who was thought to have once been a sovereignty goddess. Maeve is an increasingly popular and unique name with a rich history and meaning of Irish origin. The name Maeve comes from the Gaelic name Medb, which translates to "intoxicating" or "she who intoxicates". According to Irish mythology, Maeve was the queen of Connacht and was renowned for her beauty, strength, and cunning. As a powerful and influential figure, she was both respected and feared by her enemies. This name was ranked #124 on the US Popular Names in 2021.

## Usage

**Ireland**: The spelling _Maeve_ was a top 100 girls' name in most years between 1964 and 2009. _Meabh_ was 99 on the list of popular girls' names in 2020.

**Northern Ireland**: _Maeve_ was in the top 100 between 1997 and 2004. _Meabh_ was 44th in 2017.

**United States**: _Maeve_ was among the top 500 girls' names from 2013 and in the top 150 in 2021.

### People named as Maeve or similar

- Medb, Queen of Connacht in the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology
- Medb ingen Indrechtach mac Muiredaig, Princess of Connacht, fl. 800
- Maeve Binchy (1940–2012), Irish writer
- Maeve Brennan (1917–1993), Irish short story writer and journalist
- Maeve Dermody (born 1985), Australian actress
- Maeve Fort (born 1940), British diplomat
- Maeve Gilmore (1917–1983), British artist and wife of Mervyn Peake
- Maeve Harris (born 1976), American abstract painter
- Maeve Higgins (born 1981), Irish comedian
- Maeve Hillery (née Finnegan), retired Irish doctor, the widow of Patrick Hillery, President of Ireland 1976–90
- Maeve Ingoldsby (born 1947), Irish writer
- Maeve Jinkings (born 1976), Brazilian actress
- Maeve Kelly (born 1930), Irish writer
- Maeve Kennedy McKean, American attorney and academic
- Maeve Kinkead (born 1946), American actress
- Meave Leakey, paleontologist, born 1942
- Maeve Ludlow, fictional character from _Doctors_
- Maeve McCarthy, Irish mathematician
- Maeve McGuire (born 1937), American actress
- Maeve Murphy, Irish screenwriter and film director
- Maeve O'Boyle (born 1987), Scottish singer-songwriter
- Maeve O'Donovan (born 1990), Irish singer
- Maeve Quaid, Canadian academic
- Maeve Quinlan (born 1964), American actress and tennis player
- Maeve Sherlock (born 1960), British peer

## In popular culture

- Maeve Benson, in the ABC Family drama _Make It Or Break It_, played by Alice Greczyn
- Maeve Donavan, portrayed in the American police drama _Criminal Minds_
- Maeve Millay is a main character in the TV series _Westworld_
- Maeve Ridordan, in Cate Tiernan's Sweep (book series)
- Maeve Ryan, in the American soap opera _Ryan's Hope_, played by Helen Gallagher
- Maeve Rojas, in Karen McManus’s One of Us book series
- Maeve Stoddard, in the American soap opera _Guiding Light_
- Maeve Wiley, in the Netflix series _Sex Education_, played by Emma Mackey
- Maeve, a sorceress in the Canadian TV series _The Adventures of Sinbad_
- Maeve, a flanker class character in the popular video game _Paladins: Champions of the Realm_
- Maeve, a Fae Queen in the _Throne of Glass_ series
- Maeve, The Winter Lady, the youngest of the Winter Queens. She is the Queen Who is to Come in _The Dresden Files_ series by Jim Butcher
- Queen Maeve is a superhero. She is part of "The 7" on the series _The Boys_.
- Maebh, character in the 8th series. She appeared in the 10th episode of _Doctor Who_, "In the Forest of the Night".
- Queen Meve, Queen of Lyria and Rivia in _The Witcher_ universe. She gave Geralt his title "of Rivia"
- Mebh Óg MacTíre is a main character in the animated film _Wolfwalkers_