Méabh
Say it: MAYV/mʲeːvˠ/
GirlIrishMythologyMeans usually explained as "intoxicating"5 letters1 syllable
#38
in Ireland (2025)
#34 with spellings combined
125
babies in 2025
#34
best rank (2023)
2,067
babies since 1976
Up 49
10-year rank change
Méabh through the years
Compare with another name →Show the numbers
| Year | Babies (girls) | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 125 | #34 |
| 2024 | 112 | #42 |
| 2023 | 131 | #34 |
| 2022 | 90 | #62 |
| 2021 | 114 | #53 |
| 2020 | 76 | #70 |
| 2019 | 75 | #78 |
| 2018 | 69 | #89 |
| 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 | #283 |
| 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 |
| 1976 | 5 | #392 |
Source: CSO, Irish Babies' Names (VSA50, VSA60), CC BY 4.0. Spellings with and without fadas are combined; the CSO only recorded fadas from 2018.
★ What does Méabh mean?
Usually explained as "intoxicating"
Irish, from Old Irish Medb, related to an old Celtic word for mead.
Say it right
MAYV
The bh sounds like v. In Connacht the ending is closer to a w, and in Ulster it is often said with two syllables, MAY-wa.
Not:MEE-avMEB
The story of Méabh
Méabh is the modern Irish spelling of the Old Irish Medb, later written Meadhbh. The name is related to an old Celtic word for mead, and it is usually explained as intoxicating, or she who intoxicates. Some scholars think Medb began as a goddess of sovereignty. Maeve is the usual English form.
In the Ulster Cycle of stories, Medb is the queen of Connacht, ruling from Cruachan. She is best remembered for launching the great cattle raid, the Táin Bó Cúailnge, to take Ulster’s prized Brown Bull of Cooley.
Before 2018 the CSO recorded no fadas, so older figures are all under Meabh. Counting both spellings, the name reached number 34 in 2023 with 131 babies. It was number 34 again in 2025. That year the spelling Méabh on its own was 38th. It is even more popular in Northern Ireland, where it was 9th in 2025.
Say it differently where you're from, or spotted something wrong? Tell us.
Sources
- Wiktionary: Méabh (Irish proper noun)
- Wikipedia: Medb
- Wikipedia: Maeve
- CSO VSA60, Girls Names in Ireland with 3 or More Occurrences
- NISRA, Baby names in Northern Ireland
At a glance
Similar names
Sibling ideas
Spellings counted here
| Spelling | 2025 | All years |
|---|---|---|
| Méabh | 116 | 712 |
| Meabh | 9 | 1,355 |
In Northern Ireland
#9 in 2025 with 81 babies. Best rank #9 (2025); 991 babies since 1997.
Source: NISRA, Open Government Licence.