The name Maeve is on many of the favourite name lists in the notebooks and minds of so many parents-to-be around Ireland and, indeed, the world!
It has soared in popularity in the past few years, and we can tell why. It sounds gorgeous, for one thing, and the anglicised spelling makes it ‘international’ while still retaining its Irish essence.
In Ireland, Maeve has a few spellings that parents can choose from: Méabh is the one most commonly used today, Meadhbh is the Early Modern Irish spelling, and Medb is the ancient version.
There were 116 babies registered as Méabh in Ireland 2025, ranking at 38 on the Ireland's Central Statistics Office (CSO) chart, with 83 babies called Maeve. 9 babies were named Meabh (without the síneadh fada over the ‘e’), and there were no records for Medb.
The name, with the anglicised form, is huge in other English-speaking countries now, and while we still love it, we think there is a great Irish alternative if you think it’s getting too popular.
The name is Sadhbh, but more specifically, its anglicised spelling, since we’re already down that route. Sadhbh is pronounced sive, like hive, and the name Sive may be the ‘easier’ spelling for those unfamiliar with Irish spellings, but it also has very ‘cool girl’ vibes.
Choosing this spelling is also giving a little girl a literary nod, as Sive is the name of the title character of the John B Keane play.
Sadhbh is the ‘official’ Irish spelling, but other alternatives are Sadbh and Saibh.
In Irish mythology, Sadhbh was the wife of the hero Fionn mac Cumhaill and the mother of Oisín. The name means ‘sweet’ or ‘good’.
We can totally see the name Sive getting big in the UK or the States, as parents look for an alternative to the beautiful but popular Maeve.
*This article was originally published on RollerCoaster.ie.
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