Meadhbh as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Meadhbh

What is the meaning of the name Meadhbh ?

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

Meadhbh is Irish in Origin.

Meadhbh is the early modern Irish Gaelic spelling of the Old Irish Medb, pronounced roughly MAYV. The name derives from Proto-Celtic medu- ‘mead’ and the related idea of intoxication, yielding the sense ‘she who intoxicates’ or ‘intoxicating one.’ In Irish myth, Medb (Queen Medb of Connacht) is a central figure of the Ulster Cycle, associated with sovereignty, prowess, and fertility; her legend in the Táin Bó Cúailnge cemented the name’s prestige in medieval Ireland.

Usage persisted in Gaelic tradition, though spellings shifted with language standardization. Modern Irish favors Méabh or Meabh, while Meadhbh survives as a traditional variant. The anglicized form Maeve became widely used in the 20th century and has spread across the English-speaking world. Other historical or regional forms include Medbh and Maebh. The name carries connotations of charisma, leadership, and an intoxicating charm.