Maeve
Girl name · #76 in 2025 · Well-known
How old is the name Maeve? In official American birth records, Maeve has been tracked continuously since 1940, giving it 85 years of documented American history.
In 2025, 3,153 baby girls were named Maeve, placing it at #76 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #451, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 571 girls born in 2025 was named Maeve.
The 85-year story
Maeve first appears in the Social Security records in 1940, when 8 girls received the name. Its all-time peak is essentially right now: 2025, with 3,153 babies and a rank of #76. Names at their peak can keep climbing — or be one trend cycle from the long slide that eventually hits most popular names. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Babies named Maeve per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Maeve against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Maeve in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Maeve is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "well-known". A low score means broad familiarity: teachers will spell it right, and your child may share it with a classmate. For many families that's a feature, not a bug.
Where Maeve is most common
Geography matters for names, and Maeve is no exception. Adjusted for how many girls are born in each state, Maeve is most common in VT (15 per 1,000), NH (15 per 1,000), RI (11 per 1,000), ME (10 per 1,000), MA (7 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 2.4 per 1,000 girls. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Maeve is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Names like Maeve
Statistically, parents drawn to Maeve tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Millie, Josie, Margot, Eloise, and Maisie.
MillieJosieMargotEloiseMaisieAylaOliveAmara
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Maeve | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 3,153 | #76 |
| 2024 | 3,105 | #75 |
| 2023 | 3,062 | #73 |
| 2022 | 2,676 | #103 |
| 2021 | 2,253 | #124 |
| 2020 | 1,644 | #174 |
| 2019 | 1,303 | #244 |
| 2018 | 973 | #334 |
| 2017 | 867 | #360 |
| 2016 | 820 | #406 |
| 2015 | 703 | #451 |
| 2014 | 648 | #486 |
| 2013 | 625 | #485 |
| 2012 | 571 | #530 |
| 2011 | 489 | #591 |
| 2010 | 546 | #536 |
| 2009 | 508 | #594 |
| 2008 | 486 | #636 |
| 2007 | 480 | #621 |
| 2006 | 447 | #643 |
| 2005 | 398 | #695 |
| 2004 | 378 | #710 |
| 2003 | 413 | #643 |
| 2002 | 350 | #710 |
| 2001 | 317 | #756 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Maeve?
In official American birth records, the name Maeve first appeared in 1940 (over 85 years ago), when 8 newborn girls received the name. It has been tracked in modern national records for 85 years.
Is Maeve a popular girl name?
Maeve ranked #76 among girls in 2025 with 3,153 babies given the name — firmly in the top 100, so yes, it’s a popular choice. Ten years earlier it ranked #451.
When was the name Maeve most popular?
Maeve peaked in 2025, when 3,153 American girls received the name (ranked #76 that year). That peak is current — the name is at or near its all-time high right now.
How rare is the name Maeve?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 571 newborn American girls was named Maeve. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "well-known".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.