The name Neave is of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic 'Niamh', which means 'radiant' or 'shining'. It is a unisex name but has been more commonly used for females in recent years. Neave is often associated with the enchantress Niamh, who appears in Irish mythology as the daughter of Manannán mac Lir and the wife of Oisín.
The name Neave experienced a noticeable upsurge in popularity between 2014 and 2017, with the highest number of births recorded in 2017 (16). However, it has shown overall fluctuation over the years, with periods of decline and stability as well.