Arya vs Meabh
Arya and Meabhcompared on official birth-registration statistics and Namewise's recorded data. This page states what each name's record shows — it never picks a winner or scores one name against the other.
Head to head
Ranks are only compared within one published list and one year. Two ranks from different years, from a boys' and a girls' list, or from different registrars are not comparable, so they are not placed side by side.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Arya was ranked #212 and Meabh #17 among girls in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Arya was ranked #184 and Meabh #952 among girls in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Arya was ranked #196 and Meabh #413 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Arya was ranked #230 and Meabh #351 among girls in Scotland.
Arya and Meabh over time
Arya and Meabh appear together in 3 published lists, across 45 years of shared records. Arya held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Meabh in 1.
The order between them changed and held in 2 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Arya reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, Meabh in 1. Each position is a place inside its own list, so this compares when they peaked and never how high.
Counted list by list. Two names in the same published list are measured on the same scale in the same year, so those comparisons are real — but positions from different lists are not, so nothing here is combined into an overall standing.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls18 shared years, 2002–2024
Arya held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Meabh in 1.
Highest recorded here: Arya #120 in 2019, Meabh #952 in 2024.
The order changed in 2003: Arya moved ahead. In 2002 they stood at #3409 and #2868; by 2003 that had become #1472 and #4373.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Arya #184, Meabh #952.
Republic of Ireland · Girls14 shared years, 2012–2025
Arya held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Meabh in 6.
Highest recorded here: Arya #165 in 2021, Meabh #76 in 2017.
The order changed in 2018: Arya moved ahead. In 2017 they stood at #219 and #76; by 2018 that had become #299 and #387.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Arya #196, Meabh #413.
Northern Ireland · Girls13 shared years, 2012–2024
Arya held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Meabh in 13.
Highest recorded here: Arya #166 in 2020, Meabh #17 in 2024.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Arya #212, Meabh #17.
Two names moving past each other in a ranking is a fact about the ranking. Namewise does not claim one name displaced the other, that families chose between them, or that either influenced the other — none of that is in this data.
Side by side
| Field | Arya | Meabh |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | The modern Irish form of the older name Medb (Anglicised 'Maeve'), traditionally associated with the mythological warrior-queen of Connacht in the Ulster Cycle. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Irish |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈmʲeːw/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 1 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #196 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #413 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Meabh has a recorded origin (Irish); Arya does not have one recorded yet.
- Arya has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Meabh.
- A meaning is recorded for Meabh; Arya doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE.
How each name got here
Arya
Popularity journey
First recorded1996
First recorded at #2357 among boys in England and Wales in 1996 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
England and Wales · Boys
Highest recorded1997–2024
Highest recorded position: #120 among girls in England and Wales, in 2019 (recorded 1997–2024).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #259 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls
Meabh
Popularity journey
First recorded1976
First recorded at #392 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1976 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1997–2024
Highest recorded position: #17 among girls in Northern Ireland, in 2024 (recorded 1997–2024).
Northern Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #413 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls