| Maeve | Saoirse | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | She who rules | Freedom |
| Origin | Irish | Irish |
| Gender | Girl | Girl |
| Pronunciation | MAYV | SEER-shuh |
| Syllables | 1 | 2 |
| First appeared | 1940 | 1993 |
| Peak year | 2025 (3,153) | 2020 (373) |
| In 2025 | 3,153 | 222 |
| Trend | Near its peak | Rising |
Source: US Social Security Administration.
| Decade | Maeve | Saoirse |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 15,893 | 1,768 |
| 2010s | 7,545 | 1,853 |
| 2000s | 4,072 | 383 |
| 1990s | 1,450 | 64 |
| 1980s | 333 | 0 |
| 1970s | 89 | 0 |
| 1960s | 102 | 0 |
| 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.
Saoirse is the Irish word for “freedom” or “liberty,” popularised in the 20th century.
Maeve is more popular than Saoirse today: about 3,153 US babies were given the name Maeve in 2025, compared with 222 named Saoirse.
Maeve means She who rules (Irish origin), while Saoirse means Freedom (Irish origin).
In US records, Maeve first appears in 1940 and Saoirse in 1993, so Maeve has the longer recorded history.