Meabh vs Rena
Meabh and Renacompared 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.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2019, Meabh was ranked #421 and Rena #716 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Meabh was ranked #952 and Rena #2411 among girls in England and Wales.
Meabh and Rena over time
Meabh and Rena appear together in 2 published lists, across 22 years of shared records. Meabh held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Rena in 0.
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.
Rena reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 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.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls13 shared years, 1999–2024
Meabh held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Rena in 4.
Highest recorded here: Meabh #952 in 2024, Rena #2189 in 1999.
The order changed in 2018: Meabh moved ahead. In 2017 they stood at #4103 and #3615; by 2018 that had become #1711 and #5666.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Meabh #952, Rena #2411.
Republic of Ireland · Girls9 shared years, 1979–2019
Meabh held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Rena in 2.
Highest recorded here: Meabh #122 in 2004, Rena #399 in 1982.
The order changed in 1983: Meabh moved ahead. In 1982 they stood at #467 and #399; by 1983 that had become #476 and #529.
Most recent shared year, 2019: Meabh #421, Rena #716.
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 | Meabh | Rena |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | The modern Irish form of the older name Medb (Anglicised 'Maeve'), traditionally associated with the mythological warrior-queen of Connacht in the Ulster Cycle. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Irish | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈmʲeːw/ | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 1 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE | GB-ENW, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #413 (2025) | England and Wales · Girls #2411 (2024) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 60/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Meabh has a recorded origin (Irish); Rena does not have one recorded yet.
- Meabh has 1 syllable, compared with 2 for Rena.
- A meaning is recorded for Meabh; Rena doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, IE.
How each name got here
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
Rena
Popularity journey
First recorded1965
First recorded at #385 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1965 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1965–2019
Highest recorded position: #385 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1965 (recorded 1965–2019).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #2411 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Girls