Pronunciation
Mave (rhymes with Dave)
Meaning
She who intoxicates
Alternate spellings
Maeve; Meadhbh; Medb; Meabh; Maobh
Fun fact
Méabh was the Queen of Connacht in Irish mythology. There are so many ways to spell this name! Medb is an old Irish spelling, Meadhbh came later, and you'll also see Méabh and the anglicised Maeve. They're all connected with the same name.
Popularity in Ireland
Figures for the spelling Méabh, Republic of Ireland.
The CSO only publishes names given to three or more babies in a year. “Less than 3” means zero, one or two babies, and these years appear as gaps on the graph.
Number of babies registered each year
From 2018, spellings with and without fadas are counted separately. Earlier figures group these spellings together, so the graph has a break at 2018.
View yearly figures
| Year | Babies named | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 116 | #38 |
| 2024 | 104 | #50 |
| 2023 | 118 | #44 |
| 2022 | 82 | #65 |
| 2021 | 100 | #57 |
| 2020 | 68 | #77 |
| 2019 | 66 | #87 |
| 2018 | 58 | #103 |
| 2017 | 81 | #76 |
| 2016 | 72 | #82 |
| 2015 | 78 | #83 |
| 2014 | 74 | #89 |
| 2013 | 57 | #109 |
| 2012 | 75 | #88 |
| 2011 | 75 | #92 |
| 2010 | 62 | #107 |
| 2009 | 59 | #111 |
| 2008 | 75 | #88 |
| 2007 | 53 | #110 |
| 2006 | 50 | #113 |
| 2005 | 52 | #108 |
| 2004 | 40 | #122 |
| 2003 | 40 | #121 |
| 2002 | 18 | #208 |
| 2001 | 31 | #136 |
| 2000 | 24 | #159 |
| 1999 | 22 | #165 |
| 1998 | 19 | #179 |
| 1997 | 21 | #213 |
| 1996 | 31 | #160 |
| 1995 | 27 | #162 |
| 1994 | 14 | #240 |
| 1993 | 13 | #266 |
| 1992 | 12 | #282 |
| 1991 | 12 | #273 |
| 1990 | 21 | #201 |
| 1989 | 8 | #332 |
| 1988 | 10 | #304 |
| 1987 | 8 | #348 |
| 1986 | 5 | #422 |
| 1985 | 5 | #421 |
| 1984 | 9 | #320 |
| 1983 | 4 | #476 |
| 1982 | 4 | #467 |
| 1981 | 3 | #533 |
| 1980 | 3 | #542 |
| 1979 | 3 | #523 |
| 1978 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1977 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1976 | 5 | #392 |
| 1975 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1974 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1973 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1972 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1971 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1970 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1969 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1968 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1967 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1966 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1965 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1964 | Less than 3 | - |
Source: CSO, Irish Babies’ Names, tables VSA50 and VSA60. Latest year: 2025.