name Uncommon

Irving

UR-vihng

Irving (name) means a surname of Scottish Gaelic origin, a variant of Irvine. Example: “Washington Irving was a famous American author.”

name

A surname of Scottish Gaelic origin, a variant of Irvine.

"Washington Irving was a famous American author."

A male given name, historically also used by English-speaking Jewish families as an anglicised form of Israel.

"His grandfather went by Irving after emigrating."

A place name shared by several towns in the US, including a city in Dallas County, Texas.

"She grew up in Irving, Texas."

How to use Irving

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA surname, given name, or American place name related to Irvine.

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.

Test yourself on “Irving” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

Washington _____ was a famous American author.

Etymology

A variant of the Scottish surname Irvine, likely from a Celtic word related to Welsh ir/yr ("fresh") plus afon ("river").

Origin: Welsh

Frequently asked questions

What does “Irving” mean?

The word “Irving” means a surname of Scottish Gaelic origin, a variant of Irvine. In plain terms, a surname, given name, or American place name related to Irvine.

How do you pronounce “Irving”?

“Irving” is pronounced UR-vihng (/ˈɝ.vɪŋ/ in IPA).

How do you use “Irving” in a sentence?

Here is “Irving” used in a sentence: “Washington Irving was a famous American author.”

What part of speech is “Irving”?

“Irving” is a name.

Where does the word “Irving” come from?

The word “Irving” comes from Welsh. A variant of the Scottish surname Irvine, likely from a Celtic word related to Welsh ir/yr ("fresh") plus afon ("river").

Is “Irving” a common word?

“Irving” is an uncommon word in modern English.

How many meanings does “Irving” have?

“Irving” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a surname of Scottish Gaelic origin, a variant of Irvine.

Is Irving a first name or a surname?

Irving can be both. It is a surname of Scottish Gaelic origin, a variant of Irvine, and also a male given name, historically used by English-speaking Jewish families as an anglicised form of Israel.

Where does the name Irving come from?

As a surname, Irving is of Scottish Gaelic origin and is a variant of Irvine. As a given name, it has a separate history of use by English-speaking Jewish families as an anglicised form of Israel.

Is Irving a place name as well as a personal name?

Yes, Irving is shared by several towns in the United States, including a city in Dallas County, Texas. It functions as a surname, a given name, and a place name.

Featured in

Vocabulary lists that include Irving:

Words with Celtic origins