Name profile

BoyPronounced American English /ˈɜɹ.vɪŋ/; British English /ˈɜː.vɪŋ/English language family

Irving

A name meaning "green water".

Quick answer

Irving is a boy name meaning "green water".

Pronunciation: American English /ˈɜɹ.vɪŋ/; British English /ˈɜː.vɪŋ/.

GenderBoy
Meaninggreen water
PronunciationAmerican English /ˈɜɹ.vɪŋ/; British English /ˈɜː.vɪŋ/
Language familyEnglish

Meaning and history

From a Scottish surname that was derived from the town of Irvine in North Ayrshire, itself named for the River Irvine, which is derived from Brythonic elements meaning "green water". Historically this name has been relatively common among Jews, who have used it as an American-sounding form of Hebrew names beginning with I such as Isaac, Israel and Isaiah. A famous bearer was the Russian-American songwriter and lyricist Irving Berlin (1888-1989), whose birth name was Israel Beilin.

Notes and context

Usage: english, jewish