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Home › Baby Names Directory › Neve

Neve

♀ Girl

Pronounced NEV /ˈnɛv/Medium

Meaning: Bright, radiant; anglicized spelling of Irish Niamh, a goddess of Tír na nÓgHigh

In 30 seconds: One svelte syllable, two luminous meanings: the radiant Irish Niamh made spellable, and the Italian word for snow. Either way, it glows.
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Origin HighIrish, Italian
MeaningBright, radiant; anglicized spelling of Irish Niamh, a goddess of Tír na nÓg
U.S. rank (2025)#3156 ↗ Rising
2025 U.S. births51 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)
Peak year2010
Total births (all-time)≈ 1,608

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 201019962025

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Neve is best known as the sayable spelling of Niamh — Irish for 'bright, radiant', the golden-haired otherworld princess of the Fianna tales — and independently as the Italian and Portuguese word for snow. Actress Neve Campbell, named for her Dutch mother's maiden name, carried the spelling to 1990s fame.

In Britain and Ireland the forms Niamh, Neve, and Nevaeh-unrelated Niamh-variants chart steadily; American use is rarer and often honors Irish heritage without the spelling hurdle. A snow-white name in every sense, it remains an elegant rarity stateside.

Did you know? In Irish myth, Niamh of the Golden Hair carried the hero Oisín to Tír na nÓg, the Land of Youth — three hundred years passed before he touched Ireland again.
Overall data confidence 85%
Behind the Name — Niamh — Irish etymology

Variations

NiamhNieveNeva

Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

  • ★Neve Campbell (1973–present)
    Canadian actress known for Scream and Party of Five.

If you like Neve…

Niamh— the original Irish spelling of the radiant goddess
Maeve— the rhyming Irish queen name beloved in America
Fiona— a fellow luminous Celtic classic
Shea— the same nature feel
Shay— a similarly popular pick

Explore names like Neve

By themenatureirishmythologyshort-and-sweet
By meaningLightGod / Divine

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Neve mean?

Neve is an anglicized spelling of Irish Niamh, 'bright, radiant', and is also the Italian word for 'snow'.

How do you pronounce Neve?

It's said NEV /ˈnɛv/ — a single syllable; some bearers use NEEV, closer to the Irish.

Is Neve a boy or girl name?

Neve is a girl's name.

How popular is Neve?

Neve is a rare name in the U.S., better known in Britain and Ireland.

💬 Ask Nia