Irving
Irving is a boys' name of Scottish origin meaning “green water, sea friend.”
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how do you pronounce Irving?
ER-ving
where does the name Irving come from?
A variant of the Scottish surname Irvine, from the River Irvine in Dumfriesshire, whose name comes from a root related to words for fresh and river.
Irving derives from a Scottish place name meaning 'green water' or possibly from the Old English 'Eoforwine' (boar friend). The name has a strong cultural legacy through Irving Berlin, who wrote some of America's most iconic songs, and Washington Irving, father of American literature. It projects intellectual and creative distinction.
how popular is this name?
Irving has appeared in the US top 1,000 in 119 years since 1880, and fell outside it for 7. It peaked at #93 in 1911, and ranked #980 in 2005.
See the milestone years
| Year | Rank |
|---|---|
| 2005 | #980 |
| 2004 | #925 |
| 2003 | #816 |
| 2002 | #875 |
| 2001 | #958 |
| 2000 | #839 |
| 1997 | #988 |
| 1996 | #889 |
| 1990 | #684 |
| 1980 | #938 |
| 1970 | #714 |
| 1960 | #557 |
| 1950 | #390 |
| 1940 | #335 |
| 1930 | #207 |
| 1920 | #116 |
| 1911 | #93 |
| 1910 | #118 |
| 1900 | #185 |
| 1890 | #193 |
| 1880 | #200 |
Source: SSA National Baby Names Dataset (through 2025). Years absent from the table are years Irving fell outside the top 1,000.
the history of Irving
Irving is used as a male given name taken from the surname; Irving Berlin and Washington Irving are among its best-known bearers.
who are famous people named Irving?
- Irving Berlin (American composer, 'White Christmas,' 'God Bless America')
- Washington Irving (American author, 'The Legend of Sleepy Hollow')
what are the nicknames and variants of Irving?
Nicknames
Variants around the world
what names go well with Irving?
Sibling names that share Irving's rhythm and register without echoing it too closely.
quick answers about Irving
What does the name Irving mean?
Irving means “green water, sea friend”.
What is the origin of the name Irving?
Irving comes from the Scottish naming tradition. Related forms include Irvine.
How popular is the name Irving?
Irving ranked #980 in the US in 2005, according to Social Security data. Its best year was 1911, at #93, and it has spent 119 years in the top 1,000 since 1880.
Is Irving a boy or girl name?
Irving is primarily a boys' name.
How do you pronounce Irving?
Irving is pronounced ER-ving, with 2 syllables.
Last updated · Curated by HushName editorial
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