| Maeve | Nora | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | She who rules | Honour; light |
| Origin | Irish | Irish |
| Gender | Girl | Girl |
| Pronunciation | MAYV | NOR-uh |
| Syllables | 1 | 2 |
| First appeared | 1940 | 1880 |
| Peak year | 2025 (3,153) | 2025 (6,380) |
| In 2025 | 3,153 | 6,380 |
| Trend | Near its peak | Near its peak |
Source: US Social Security Administration.
| Decade | Maeve | Nora |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 15,893 | 36,567 |
| 2010s | 7,545 | 44,076 |
| 2000s | 4,072 | 10,922 |
| 1990s | 1,450 | 5,532 |
| 1980s | 333 | 5,532 |
| 1970s | 89 | 5,770 |
| 1960s | 102 | 9,521 |
| 1950s | 74 | 11,540 |
| 1940s | 50 | 9,405 |
| 1930s | 0 | 8,926 |
| 1920s | 0 | 12,298 |
| 1910s | 0 | 11,063 |
| 1900s | 0 | 7,172 |
| 1890s | 0 | 8,293 |
| 1880s | 0 | 6,521 |
Maeve anglicises the Irish Medb, usually interpreted as “she who rules” or “intoxicating.” Queen Medb is a central figure in Irish mythology.
Nora is a short form of names such as Eleanor and Honora (from the Latin honor). Long popular in Ireland, it has become a widespread vintage revival.
Nora is more popular than Maeve today: about 6,380 US babies were given the name Nora in 2025, compared with 3,153 named Maeve.
Maeve means She who rules (Irish origin), while Nora means Honour; light (Irish origin).
In US records, Maeve first appears in 1940 and Nora in 1880, so Nora has the longer recorded history.