Given name
Mave
“one who brings joy to others”
In Irish use, Mave is used as a variant of Maeve.
Meaning & origin
What it means
One interpretation is “one who brings joy to others.”
Where it comes from
Mave is a short form of Mavis. Mavis has been associated with Old French and Breton naming traditions.
Explained through its name family
How it developed
In Irish use, Mave is used as a variant of Maeve.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 2017. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin. Mave is a variant of Maeve. The history of Maeve gives this family its wider story. In the Táin Bó Cuailnge, or Cattle Raid of Cooley, Queen Meadhbh of Connacht leads a raid to capture the Brown Bull of Cooley. Maeve is an English spelling of her name; the story belongs to Irish epic tradition.
Combines direct and name-family evidence
Mave through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 54
- 0 boys · 54 girls
- Most popular year
- 2021
- 10 babies
- 2025
- 7
- #12,722 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +100%
- Rising fast
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 7 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 12,722 among girls’ names. The recent annual counts are too incomplete to establish a ten-year comparison.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Mave’s family of names
Mave is a short form of Mavis. Mave has a related form in Maeve. Mave has a related form in Mava.
The ring: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 3
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Similar names
If you love Mave, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Shaylee
“from the fairy palace; a fairy princess”
>99% girls
Maise
“an adorned beauty”
>99% girls
Malise
“a dark beauty” · “one who is masterful”
>99% girls
Sorcha
“princess”
>99% girls
Caoimhe
“one who is charming and beautiful”
>99% girls
Kinzie
“the king's victory” · “the victorious prince”
>99% girls
Talulla
“running water; leaping water”
>99% girls
Meara
“one who is filled with happiness” · “filled with joy”
>99% girls