Maeve — Name Meaning, Origin & Popularity

Maeve is a girls' name of Irish origin, meaning "she who intoxicates". The legendary Irish warrior-queen Medb — modern spelling, ancient fire.

Style & feel. With mythological and modern on its style card, Maeve sits comfortably in the modern naming landscape — familiar enough that nobody misreads it, distinctive enough that your child won't share it with three classmates. At 2 syllables, it flows across most middle-name combinations and survives every life stage from playground to résumé.

Pairing ideas. Maeve pairs naturally with one- and two-syllable middles (Saoirse, Niamh share its sound-world). If you like Maeve, you'll probably also love Saoirse, Niamh, Fiona — same era, same energy, same bone structure.