Mavčiče was attested in written sources in 1439 as Maltschitz and Maltzitz (and as Maltschitsch in 1455 and Malczicz in 1464). The name may be derived from *Malъčiťi, a plural patronymic from the personal name *Malъkъ, thus referring to an early inhabitant. An alternate theory is based on the transcription Vuizilinesteti from 973; if this is derived from Old High Germanluizili 'small' + stat 'town', and if it refers to Mavčiče, then the name could be derived from the plural demonym*Mal(ovьsь)čiťane (literally, 'residents of a small village'). However, this hypothesis is phonologically and morphologically problematic.[5] In the past the German name was Mautschitsch.[2]
Hydroelectric plant
The Mavčiče Hydroelectric Plant began operating in 1987 and has an average yearly capacity of 61 GWh. In 2006 and 2007 solar panels with a capacity of 72 kW·h were mounted on its southern face, making it the largest solar power production unit in Slovenia to date.[6]
Church
The parish church in the settlement is dedicated to the Conversion of Paul.[7] It was first mentioned in documents dating to the 15th century, but the current building dates to the 1820s.[8]