Sophia Girl
soh-FEE-uh
“wisdom” · Greek
#5
Maeva
Girl· “welcome (Tahitian)”
- Meaning
- welcome (Tahitian)
- Pronunciation
- mah-AY-vuh
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- #1,403
- US babies 2025
- 156
- Best rank
- #1,288 (2023)
- Peak year
- 2023
Meaning and origin of Maeva
Maeva is usually said to mean “welcome (Tahitian)”.
Maeva is a Tahitian name, usually explained as welcome, used in French Polynesia and widely in mainland France, where it has been fashionable for some time and carries a sense of island warmth. The pronunciation is mah-AY-vuh, with the stress on the second syllable. It is sometimes confused with Maeve, the Irish name of a legendary queen, but the two are unrelated. The name is short, sunny and easy to say, and it sits naturally beside other names with a Pacific flavor such as Moana or Leilani. Mae and Eva are natural nicknames, and the welcoming meaning makes it a thoughtful choice.
Popularity over time
Maeva first appears in US Social Security records in 1940. It has never ranked in the national top 1,000, which keeps it genuinely uncommon. Its best national rank was #1,288 in 2023, the same year it reached its highest count of 178 babies. In 2025, 156 babies were named Maeva, and it ranked #1,403 nationally. That is 271% more than ten years earlier, so it is clearly on the rise.
Its national rank moved from #6,802 in 2010 and #1,403 in 2025. Of the 1,416 US girls named Maeva since records began, 58% were born in the 2020s, its biggest decade. The 2010s come next, with 440 babies.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Ameera, Arwen, Zinnia, Reem, and Sana.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Maeva ranked highest in Washington, Indiana, and Missouri.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| Washington | #658 | 10 |
| Indiana | #885 | 7 |
| Missouri | #1031 | 5 |
| Florida | #1037 | 15 |
| Ohio | #1100 | 8 |
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for girls.
Maeva is usually pronounced mah-AY-vuh, with two syllables. It has five letters, starts with M and ends in “-va”.
Middle names for Maeva
A few middle names that flow with Maeva: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Maeva
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Lists that include Maeva
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Maeva mean?
Maeva is usually said to mean “welcome (Tahitian)”.
Is Maeva a popular name?
Not especially. Maeva ranked #1,403 in the US in 2025, which puts it outside the top 1,000.
Is Maeva a boy or girl name?
Maeva is mainly a girl's name. In the US it is used almost only for girls.
How do you pronounce Maeva?
Maeva is usually pronounced mah-AY-vuh. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings