| Deirdre | Maeve | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Sorrowful | She who rules |
| Origin | Irish | Irish |
| Gender | Girl | Girl |
| Pronunciation | DEER-druh | MAYV |
| Syllables | 2 | 1 |
| First appeared | 1921 | 1940 |
| Peak year | 1961 (799) | 2025 (3,153) |
| In 2025 | 13 | 3,153 |
| Trend | Declining | Near its peak |
Source: US Social Security Administration.
| Decade | Deirdre | Maeve |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 85 | 15,893 |
| 2010s | 206 | 7,545 |
| 2000s | 544 | 4,072 |
| 1990s | 1,206 | 1,450 |
| 1980s | 2,049 | 333 |
| 1970s | 3,123 | 89 |
| 1960s | 6,321 | 102 |
| 1950s | 2,274 | 74 |
| 1940s | 822 | 50 |
| 1930s | 167 | 0 |
| 1920s | 48 | 0 |
Deirdre is usually read “sorrowful”; she is a tragic heroine of Irish legend.
Maeve anglicises the Irish Medb, usually interpreted as “she who rules” or “intoxicating.” Queen Medb is a central figure in Irish mythology.
Maeve is more popular than Deirdre today: about 3,153 US babies were given the name Maeve in 2025, compared with 13 named Deirdre.
Deirdre means Sorrowful (Irish origin), while Maeve means She who rules (Irish origin).
In US records, Deirdre first appears in 1921 and Maeve in 1940, so Deirdre has the longer recorded history.