Irving Boy

Popularity: #848 · Trend: ↘ Falling

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: UR-ving //ˈɪr.vɪŋ//

Origin: English; Scottish

Meaning: English: sea friend; Scottish: green river

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Irving has its roots in the Old English and Old Norse languages, deriving from the elements "ir" meaning "river" and "ving" which can be interpreted as "friend" or "beloved." The name is believed to have originated from the Scottish surname "Irving," which is associated with the River Irwine in Ayrshire, Scotland. This connection to a geographical feature highlights the name's early significance in relation to nature and the landscape.

The transition of the name into English occurred through the influence of Scottish culture and the integration of Scottish surnames into English-speaking contexts during the medieval period. Historically, the name Irving gained prominence in the 19th century, particularly through the works of the American author Washington Irving, who was active during the early 1800s.

His literary contributions, including "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" and "Rip Van Winkle," helped to popularize the name in the literary world. Additionally, the name has been associated with various notable figures throughout history, including politicians and military leaders, which further solidified its presence in English-speaking societies.

Culturally, the name Irving carries connotations of friendship and loyalty, reflective of its etymological roots. It has been embraced in various artistic and cultural contexts, often symbolizing a connection to heritage and tradition.

The name has also seen variations and diminutives, such as "Irv," which have emerged in informal settings. Overall, Irving encapsulates a blend of natural imagery and historical significance, contributing to its enduring legacy in the English language.

Famous people named Irving

In this section, you will find notable people named Irving. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Irving who have made a significant impact on popular culture.

We also feature individuals named Irving who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.

Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.

Irving Berlin was a composer and lyricist best known for White Christmas, God Bless America, and Annie Get Your Gun.

Irving Stone was an author best known for Lust for Life, The Agony and the Ecstasy, and The President's Lady.

Irving Thalberg was a film producer best known for his work on The Broadway Melody, Mutiny on the Bounty, and The Good Earth.

Irving Kristol was a writer and editor best known for his role in founding The Public Interest and his contributions to neoconservatism.

Irving Babbitt was a literary critic and educator best known for his works on humanism and his book Literature and the American College.

Sibling suggestions

If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Irving, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.

EthanOliverNathanSimonJulianHenry

Similar names

Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Irving. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.

IrvinErvinIrvingtonIrmaIrvIreneIraIsaac

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Irving was first seen in the United States in 1880.

Irving has ranked as high as #257 nationally, which occurred in 1918, and has been most popular in New York, California, Illinois, New Jersey, and Massachusetts.

In the past 5 years the name Irving has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Irving is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Irving was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Irving.

Year Total Births Boy Girl
2025 90 90 0
2024 105 105 0
2023 97 97 0
2022 104 104 0
2021 94 94 0
2020 92 92 0
2019 120 120 0
2018 123 123 0
2017 141 141 0
2016 139 139 0
2015 100 100 0
2014 113 113 0
2013 129 129 0
2012 115 115 0
2011 121 121 0
2010 139 139 0
2009 139 139 0
2008 159 159 0
2007 179 179 0
2006 181 181 0
2005 177 177 0
2004 183 183 0
2003 214 214 0
2002 187 187 0
2001 160 160 0
2000 191 191 0
1999 140 140 0
1998 127 127 0
1997 131 131 0
1996 152 152 0
1995 165 165 0
1994 211 211 0
1993 187 187 0
1992 255 255 0
1991 340 340 0
1990 220 220 0
1989 222 222 0
1988 304 304 0
1987 109 109 0
1986 84 84 0
1985 73 73 0
1984 74 74 0
1983 82 82 0
1982 77 77 0
1981 88 88 0
1980 91 91 0
1979 82 82 0
1978 79 79 0
1977 71 71 0
1976 77 77 0
1975 82 82 0
1974 69 69 0
1973 86 86 0
1972 102 102 0
1971 103 103 0
1970 132 132 0
1969 114 114 0
1968 122 122 0
1967 133 133 0
1966 121 121 0
1965 111 111 0
1964 139 139 0
1963 158 158 0
1962 170 170 0
1961 197 197 0
1960 201 201 0
1959 175 175 0
1958 206 206 0
1957 228 228 0
1956 219 219 0
1955 248 248 0
1954 247 247 0
1953 243 243 0
1952 253 253 0
1951 286 286 0
1950 298 298 0
1949 283 283 0
1948 290 290 0
1947 320 320 0
1946 277 277 0
1945 266 266 0
1944 267 267 0
1943 325 325 0
1942 296 296 0
1941 317 317 0
1940 292 292 0
1939 322 322 0
1938 322 322 0
1937 338 338 0
1936 340 340 0
1935 353 353 0
1934 422 422 0
1933 408 408 0
1932 508 508 0
1931 583 583 0
1930 651 643 8
1929 754 754 0
1928 889 879 10
1927 1,028 1,021 7
1926 1,164 1,159 5
1925 1,182 1,174 8
1924 1,265 1,260 5
1923 1,391 1,384 7
1922 1,373 1,365 8
1921 1,422 1,417 5
1920 1,492 1,485 7
1919 1,440 1,440 0
1918 1,538 1,533 5
1917 1,475 1,470 5
1916 1,373 1,373 0
1915 1,390 1,385 5
1914 1,156 1,156 0
1913 862 862 0
1912 815 815 0
1911 431 431 0
1910 272 272 0
1909 202 202 0
1908 225 225 0
1907 196 196 0
1906 170 170 0
1905 148 148 0
1904 159 159 0
1903 125 125 0
1902 104 104 0
1901 80 80 0
1900 115 115 0
1899 95 95 0
1898 113 113 0
1897 98 98 0
1896 87 87 0
1895 110 110 0
1894 102 102 0
1893 95 95 0
1892 59 59 0
1891 75 75 0
1890 69 69 0
1889 65 65 0
1888 89 89 0
1887 55 55 0
1886 60 60 0
1885 78 78 0
1884 80 80 0
1883 46 46 0
1882 61 61 0
1881 60 60 0
1880 60 60 0

Top States for Irving (2024)

We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.

State Births Share
CA 25
45%
TX 19
35%
AZ 6
11%
IL 5
9%