Maeve — Meaning, Origin & Everything to Know

With Irish roots and the meaning 'she who intoxicates; great queen', Maeve rewards a closer look. Within the Irish world, Maeve sits in a tradition where the old Gaelic language shapes names full of nature, legend and faith, frequently surviving in more than one spelling. For a daughter, Maeve carries a sense of dignity, grace and leadership while staying simple to say and spell. Many families warm to the sound of Maeve first, then find the meaning of 'she who intoxicates; great queen' gives it staying power. Maeve appeals to families after a name with real roots — here, the Irish Gaelic word for 'she who intoxicates; great queen'. Below you'll find everything about Maeve — etymology, popularity, the personality people attach to it, its numerology number, and names that pair well with it.

What Does the Name Maeve Mean?

Maeve means 'she who intoxicates; great queen', a sense it draws straight from its Irish Gaelic roots.

The early history of Maeve belongs to the Irish world, where 'she who intoxicates; great queen' was a quality worth naming a child for. Maeve survived centuries of use precisely because 'she who intoxicates; great queen' stayed legible — the meaning never drifted far.

Modern parents tend to hear Maeve as fresh rather than old-fashioned, with 'she who intoxicates; great queen' giving it a positive, aspirational edge. The result is a name in Maeve that feels both usable and meaningful — its appeal in the 2020s in a nutshell.

The imagery around Maeve is one of dignity, grace and leadership, deepened by the Irish tradition behind it.

Origin & Etymology of Maeve

Irish · Irish Gaelic

Maeve comes from Irish Gaelic, where it means 'she who intoxicates; great queen'. In the Irish tradition the old Gaelic language shapes names full of nature, legend and faith, frequently surviving in more than one spelling, and Maeve fits squarely into that pattern. As Irish communities moved and mixed, Maeve travelled with them — sometimes keeping its spelling, sometimes adapting, but holding its meaning. Maeve endured through quiet, repeated choice more than through any one celebrated namesake. In the present day Maeve manages to feel both rooted and effortless, which is much of its charm.

Within Irish culture, Maeve connects to enduring values through its idea of dignity, grace and leadership. As Maeve spread internationally it was received warmly and adopted by families well beyond its origin — a sign of a name that crosses cultural lines gracefully. Regional forms of Maeve exist, yet 'she who intoxicates; great queen' usually stays intact across them. For diaspora families especially, Maeve can honour heritage while still working easily in everyday life anywhere.

How to Pronounce Maeve

MAE-ve — Maeve is usually said in 2 parts — MAE · ve. The stress usually falls on the first syllable, and the rest follows naturally.