Maeve
Anglicized from Irish Méabh, from Middle Irish Medb (literally “intoxicating”), name of a legendary queen of Connacht.
Every Maeve since 1940 — 29,608 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Maeve
Maeve is a top-100 name for girls in the United States, ranked #76 in 2025 with 3,153 babies given the name. It is currently rising compared with a decade ago.
Since 1940, 29,608 American babies have been named Maeve. Its peak came in 2025, when 3,153 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 2020s.
The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Maeve stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Maeve year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Girls | Girls rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 3,153 | #76 |
| 2024 | 3,105 | #75 |
| 2023 | 3,062 | #73 |
| 2022 | 2,676 | #103 |
| 2021 | 2,253 | #124 |
| 2020 | 1,644 | #174 |
| 2019 | 1,303 | #244 |
| 2018 | 973 | #334 |
| 2017 | 867 | #360 |
| 2016 | 820 | #406 |
| 2015 | 703 | #452 |
| 2014 | 648 | #487 |
| 2013 | 625 | #485 |
| 2012 | 571 | #532 |
| 2011 | 489 | #591 |
| 2010 | 546 | #536 |
| 2009 | 508 | #594 |
| 2008 | 486 | #636 |
| 2007 | 480 | #622 |
| 2006 | 447 | #647 |
| 2005 | 398 | #696 |
| 2004 | 378 | #710 |
| 2003 | 413 | #644 |
| 2002 | 350 | #710 |
| 2001 | 317 | #757 |
| 2000 | 295 | #778 |
| 1995 | 133 | #1,270 |
| 1990 | 48 | #2,505 |
| 1985 | 32 | #2,904 |
| 1980 | 13 | #5,422 |
| 1975 | 7 | #7,631 |
| 1970 | — | — |
| 1965 | 11 | #4,101 |
| 1960 | 15 | #3,295 |
| 1955 | 7 | #5,014 |
| 1950 | — | — |
| 1945 | 6 | #4,337 |
| 1940 | 8 | #3,399 |
| 1935 | — | — |
| 1930 | — | — |
| 1925 | — | — |
| 1920 | — | — |
| 1915 | — | — |
| 1910 | — | — |
| 1905 | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — |
| 1895 | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — |
| 1885 | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — |
Famous people named Maeve
- Maeve Binchy Writer · 1939–2012
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Maeve mean?
Anglicized from Irish Méabh, from Middle Irish Medb (literally “intoxicating”), name of a legendary queen of Connacht.
How popular is the name Maeve in 2025?
Maeve ranked #76 among girls' names in the United States in 2025, with 3,153 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Maeve?
29,608 babies have been named Maeve in the United States since 1940, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Maeve most popular?
Maeve peaked in 2025, when 3,153 newborns received the name.
Is Maeve a boy or girl name?
Maeve is overwhelmingly a girl's name — 100% of babies with the name.
Is the name Maeve rising or falling?
Maeve is on the rise — noticeably more popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Maeve?
Well-known people named Maeve include Maeve Binchy (writer).