| Maeve | Keira | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | She who rules | dark, black-haired |
| Origin | Irish | irish |
| Gender | Girl | Girl |
| Pronunciation | MAYV | KEER-ah |
| Syllables | 1 | 2 |
| First appeared | 1940 | 0 |
| Peak year | 2025 (3,153) | 2006 (3,022) |
| In 2025 | 3,153 | 0 |
| Trend | Near its peak | Declining |
Source: US Social Security Administration.
| Decade | Maeve | Keira |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 15,893 | 3,391 |
| 2010s | 7,545 | 13,440 |
| 2000s | 4,072 | 14,520 |
| 1990s | 1,450 | 1,390 |
| 1980s | 333 | 637 |
| 1970s | 89 | 359 |
| 1960s | 102 | 99 |
| 1950s | 74 | 0 |
| 1940s | 50 | 0 |
Maeve anglicises the Irish Medb, usually interpreted as “she who rules” or “intoxicating.” Queen Medb is a central figure in Irish mythology.
Anglicized spelling of the Irish Ciara, derived from Old Irish 'ciar' meaning 'black, dark'. Same root as Ciaran/Kieran; refers to dark hair or complexion.
Maeve is more popular than Keira today: about 3,153 US babies were given the name Maeve in 2025, compared with 0 named Keira.
Maeve means She who rules (Irish origin), while Keira means dark, black-haired (irish origin).
In US records, Maeve first appears in 1940 and Keira in 0, so Keira has the longer recorded history.