Maeve vs Vanessa
Maeve and Vanessacompared 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, Maeve was ranked #25 and Vanessa #351 among girls in Scotland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Maeve was ranked #26 and Vanessa #533 among girls in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Maeve was ranked #60 and Vanessa #413 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2023, Maeve was ranked #72 and Vanessa #391 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Maeve and Vanessa over time
Maeve and Vanessa appear together in 3 published lists, across 107 years of shared records. Maeve held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Vanessa in 1.
The order between them changed and held in one of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Vanessa 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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Maeve and Vanessa changed places 8 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1965 and 2025, ending at #60 and #413.
- Longest-running competitions
Maeve and Vanessa were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 61 years, from 1965 to 2025, ending at #60 and #413.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls61 shared years, 1965–2025
Maeve held the stronger position in 57 of those years, Vanessa in 3.
Highest recorded here: Maeve #59 in 2000, Vanessa #97 in 1993.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Maeve #60, Vanessa #413.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Maeve held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Vanessa in 23.
Highest recorded here: Maeve #26 in 2024, Vanessa #202 in 1996.
The order changed in 2019: Maeve moved ahead. In 2018 they stood at #507 and #442; by 2019 that had become #218 and #562.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Maeve #26, Vanessa #533.
Northern Ireland · Girls17 shared years, 1997–2023
Maeve held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Vanessa in 1.
Highest recorded here: Maeve #72 in 2023, Vanessa #163 in 2012.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Maeve #72, Vanessa #391.
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.
Where to go next
Comparisons that share a name, a rule or a published list with this one. Each is an existing comparison page with its own evidence — nothing here says these pairs are alike.
Other comparisons involving Maeve
Pairs where Maeve shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Audrey vs Maeve
In 1964 they stood at #85 and #80 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2025 they were #885 and #60.
Audrey · Maeve · 56 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Monica vs Maeve
In 1964 they stood at #70 and #80 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 10 places apart; by 2023 they were #727 and #80.
Monica · Maeve · 53 shared years, 1964–2023 · Started together, ended far apart
- Deborah vs Maeve
In 1964 they stood at #76 and #80 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 4 places apart; by 2025 they were #608 and #60.
Deborah · Maeve · 59 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Katherine vs Maeve
In 1964 they stood at #77 and #80 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2025 they were #608 and #60.
Katherine · Maeve · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Other comparisons involving Vanessa
Pairs where Vanessa shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Vanessa vs Lara
Over 58 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Girls, Lara rose about as far as Vanessa fell — from #189 and #401 in 1968 to #413 and #102 in 2025.
Vanessa · Lara · 58 shared years, 1968–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Zoe vs Vanessa
Over 57 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Girls, Zoe rose about as far as Vanessa fell — from #401 and #189 in 1968 to #46 and #413 in 2025.
Zoe · Vanessa · 57 shared years, 1968–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Nina vs Vanessa
Over 54 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Girls, Nina rose about as far as Vanessa fell — from #393 and #205 in 1967 to #112 and #413 in 2025.
Nina · Vanessa · 54 shared years, 1967–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Natalie vs Vanessa
Natalie and Vanessa changed places 19 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1965 and 2025, ending at #381 and #413.
Natalie · Vanessa · 61 shared years, 1965–2025 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
Side by side
| Field | Maeve | Vanessa |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | |
| Syllables | 2 | 3 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | New South Wales, Australia · Girls #38 (2025) | Norway · Girls #187 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Maeve has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Vanessa.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
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
Vanessa
Popularity journey
First recorded1963
First recorded at #99 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1963 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Highest recorded1967–1995
Highest recorded position: #15 among girls in New Zealand, in 1973 (recorded 1967–1995).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #187 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls