Deborah vs Maeve
Deborah and Maevecompared 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.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Deborah was ranked #790 and Maeve #25 among girls in Scotland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Deborah was ranked #708 and Maeve #26 among girls in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Deborah was ranked #608 and Maeve #60 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2012, Deborah was ranked #451 and Maeve #172 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Deborah and Maeve over time
Deborah and Maeve appear together in 3 published lists, across 99 years of shared records. Maeve held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Deborah 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.
Deborah reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, and Maeve 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 1991, Maeve moved ahead of Deborah in Republic of Ireland · Girls — #78 and #88 the year before became #91 and #81.
- Mirrored each other
Over 29 shared years in England and Wales · Girls, Maeve rose about as far as Deborah fell — from #302 and #891 in 1996 to #708 and #26 in 2024.
- Longest-running competitions
Deborah and Maeve were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 59 years, from 1964 to 2025, ending at #608 and #60.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Northern Ireland · Girls within 2 years — Deborah #116 in 1997, Maeve #58 in 1999.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1964 they stood at #76 and #80 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 4 places apart; by 2025 they were #608 and #60.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls59 shared years, 1964–2025
Deborah held the stronger position in 27 of those years, Maeve in 32.
Highest recorded here: Deborah #38 in 1981, Maeve #59 in 2000.
The order changed in 1991: Maeve moved ahead. In 1990 they stood at #78 and #88; by 1991 that had become #91 and #81.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Deborah #608, Maeve #60.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Deborah held the stronger position in 20 of those years, Maeve in 9.
Highest recorded here: Deborah #302 in 1996, Maeve #26 in 2024.
The order changed in 2017: Maeve moved ahead. In 2016 they stood at #544 and #638; by 2017 that had become #728 and #560.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Deborah #708, Maeve #26.
Northern Ireland · Girls11 shared years, 1997–2012
Deborah held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Maeve in 11.
Highest recorded here: Deborah #116 in 1997, Maeve #58 in 1999.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2012: Deborah #451, Maeve #172.
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 | Deborah | Maeve |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | From Hebrew, meaning 'bee'. In the biblical Book of Judges, Deborah was a prophetess who led the Israelites against Canaanite forces. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Biblical Hebrew | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈdɛb.ə.ɹə/ | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 3 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #429 (2025) | New South Wales, Australia · Girls #38 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Deborah has a recorded origin (Biblical Hebrew); Maeve does not have one recorded yet.
- Deborah has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Maeve.
- A meaning is recorded for Deborah; Maeve doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Deborah
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #51 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1952 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Highest recorded1952–1980
Highest recorded position: #3 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1957 (recorded 1952–1980).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #429 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls
Maeve
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #80 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded2020–2023
Highest recorded position: #25 among girls in New Zealand, in 2023 (recorded 2020–2023).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #38 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls