Rising since 2000, #1,581 for girls today.
Popularity of Maven since 1998
Babies named Maven per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls | Boys |
|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 5 | 0 |
| 2000s | 31 | 134 |
| 2010s | 509 | 181 |
| 2020s | 738 | 197 |
Meaning & origin
Maven is a modern unisex name that entered the U.S. naming landscape in 1998. It reached its peak popularity in 2023, ranking 1,581st, with about 1 in 12,085 babies receiving the name that year. The name has been rising steadily since 2000, reflecting a wider trend for occupational and word names. Its top states of usage are Missouri, Colorado, and Utah, suggesting a particular appeal in the western and midwestern U.S. Despite its Yiddish and Hebrew origins, Maven functions as an English vocabulary name, appealing to parents seeking a distinctive, intellectual choice.
Maven entered English from Yiddish 'meyvn', meaning 'one who understands', which itself derives from Hebrew 'mevin' (understanding). The name began appearing as a given name in the late 20th century, likely influenced by its use as a word for an expert or connoisseur. Its adoption as a first name is a modern, English-language phenomenon.
Where Maven is most popular
Births per 100,000 girls by state, 2025. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Mave, Ven, Mavy
Variants: Mavenne, Mayven
Sibling names for Maven
Names that share Maven's style, for a brother or sister.
