Maeve
Maeve was the number 26 most popular girls' name in England and Wales in 2024, given to 1,265 babies that year, according to the Office for National Statistics. It moved up 10 places from rank 36 in 2023. As general background, Maeve is usually said to be of Irish origin, meaning she who intoxicates, from the legendary queen Medb. The popularity figures are the real ONS count and rank; the meaning is widely attested etymology, not a claim about any individual.
Maeve in the ONS data
| ONS rank (2024, England and Wales) | 26 of the girls' names |
| Babies given this name (2024) | 1,265 |
| Registered as a | girl's name |
| Change since 2023 | up 10 places from rank 36 in 2023 |
Source: ONS Baby names in England and Wales, 2024 edition, released 2025-07-31. Accessed 2026-06-14. The rank and count are the real ONS figures for England and Wales. Refreshed each year on the ONS release.
What Maeve means
Maeve is usually described as a name of Irish origin, meaning she who intoxicates, from the legendary queen Medb. This is general etymological background drawn from established naming reference works. It describes the name's history and is not a claim about any individual who carries it.
Meanings and origins are general background, not ONS data and not advice.
Maeve also appears in these lists
Maeve is one of our picks for these baby name themes, all drawn from the ONS 2024 top 50.
Names like Maeve
Other ONS top-50 names that share a theme with Maeve.
Nearby in the girls' ranking
- 25. Grace
- 26. Maeve
- 27. Millie
Names and Family Data Desk, BabyData
BabyData's editorial desk builds and documents the tools, citing the underlying rule and the official UK dataset behind every number. Pregnancy-related tools are editorially reviewed against NHS and gov.uk guidance before publication.
Last reviewed: 12 June 2026