Mave as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Mave

What is the meaning of the name Mave ?

The baby name Mave is a Female name , 1 syllables long and is pronounced /meɪv/ (MAYV).

Mave is Irish in Origin.

Mave is a streamlined English spelling of Maeve, the Anglicized form of Old Irish Medb (modern Irish Méabh/Meabh). Pronounced MAYV, it carries the meaning “intoxicating” or “she who intoxicates,” likely linked to mead and sovereignty themes in early Irish tradition. The name rose from the legendary Queen Medb of Connacht in the Ulster Cycle, symbolizing charisma, power, and fertility.

While Maeve became established in Ireland and later Britain and North America from the late 19th century onward, Mave appears as a contemporary variant favored for simplicity and a crisp look; sporadic records occur earlier as a phonetic or clerical spelling. Related forms include Méabh, Meabh, Maebh, Medb, and Maeve; Anglicized diminutives May or Mae sometimes occur. Comparable modern riffs include Maven or Mavis (though with different etymology - from Old French for “song thrush”). Mave balances Celtic heritage with modern minimalism, offering a familiar sound and a streamlined spelling.