Beth vs Meabh
Beth 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, Beth was ranked #161 and Meabh #17 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Beth was ranked #266 and Meabh #413 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Beth was ranked #431 and Meabh #351 among girls in Scotland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Beth was ranked #2253 and Meabh #952 among girls in England and Wales.
Beth and Meabh over time
Beth and Meabh appear together in 3 published lists, across 81 years of shared records. Beth held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Meabh in 1.
The order between them changed and held in 3 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Beth reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, and Meabh in none. 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.
How this pair is related
The relationship kinds these two qualify for, each under its own stated rule. Every one is drawn from a list they both appear in.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 2014, Meabh moved ahead of Beth in Northern Ireland · Girls — #82 and #89 the year before became #94 and #78.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 28 shared years in Northern Ireland · Girls, Beth and Meabh averaged 57.2 places apart, ending at #161 and #17.
- Mirrored each other
Over 28 shared years in Northern Ireland · Girls, Meabh rose about as far as Beth fell — from #89 and #139 in 1997 to #161 and #17 in 2024.
- Longest-running competitions
Beth and Meabh were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 34 years, from 1987 to 2025, ending at #266 and #413.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls34 shared years, 1987–2025
Beth held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Meabh in 25.
Highest recorded here: Beth #124 in 2011, Meabh #76 in 2017.
The order changed in 2018: Beth moved ahead. In 2017 they stood at #158 and #76; by 2018 that had become #146 and #387.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Beth #266, Meabh #413.
Northern Ireland · Girls28 shared years, 1997–2024
Beth held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Meabh in 11.
Highest recorded here: Beth #40 in 2000, Meabh #17 in 2024.
The order changed in 2014: Meabh moved ahead. In 2013 they stood at #82 and #89; by 2014 that had become #94 and #78.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Beth #161, Meabh #17.
England and Wales · Girls19 shared years, 1999–2024
Beth held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Meabh in 4.
Highest recorded here: Beth #104 in 1999, Meabh #952 in 2024.
The order changed in 2021: Meabh moved ahead. In 2020 they stood at #1313 and #3447; by 2021 that had become #1351 and #1286.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Beth #2253, Meabh #952.
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 | Beth | 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 | /ˈmʲeːw/ | |
| Syllables | 1 | 1 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #266 (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); Beth does not have one recorded yet.
- Beth and Meabh both have 1 syllable.
- A meaning is recorded for Meabh; Beth doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE.
How each name got here
Beth
Popularity journey
First recorded1987
First recorded at #488 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1987 — 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: #40 among girls in Northern Ireland, in 2000 (recorded 1997–2024).
Northern Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #266 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · 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