Meabh

Meabh is the modern Irish spelling of a name that comes from Old Irish Medb, which is usually understood to mean something like intoxicating or she who intoxicates. The idea ties back to mead, a fermented honey drink, and to a sense of bewitching presence rather than a literal effect.

The name carries a bold, mythic tone because of its association with the legendary Queen Medb of Connacht. At the same time it feels gentle and lyrical in everyday use. If you like names such as Maeve or other short Celtic forms, Meabh offers a clear cultural connection and a slightly more traditional Irish spelling.

The name Meabh derives from Old Irish Medb, a name borne most famously by the legendary Queen Medb of Connacht in Irish myth. Medb appears in the epic Táin Bó Cúailnge and other early sources as a powerful, politically skilled ruler. Over the centuries the spelling and pronunciation evolved along with the language. In early medieval texts the form appears as Medb and related spellings. As Irish orthography changed, the modern spellings such as Méabh, Meabh and Anglicised forms like Maeve became established.

Medb's meaning is usually linked to the word for mead or to the verb meaning to intoxicate, so the name carried connotations of power, allure and authority. Because the name is tied to a specific legendary figure, its modern revival often reflects cultural pride and interest in Gaelic heritage. Keep in mind that exact meanings and nuances can vary in different sources, and the link between the name and mead is interpretative rather than a simple dictionary definition.