Origin and meaning of Irving

The name Irving was the 1258 most popular baby boys’s name in Scotland in 2014.

The meaning of Irving can mean several different things. In Celtic, the Irving name can mean white or handsome. In Scottish it can mean either city or friend.

History and Famous People Called Irving

The popularity of Irving can be seen in Jewish Americans as well as people of Scottish descent due to its similar sound to common Jewish names such as Israel or Isador. Examples are songwriter Irving Berlin, American entertainment executive Irving Azoff, and chemist Irving Langmuir.

First used as a last name by the Strathclyde-Briton family from the parish Irving on the English Scottish Border.

Some notable people with the last name Irving are the American Writer Washington Irving famous for the works “Rip Van Winkle” and “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” and American Novelist and Screenwriter John Irving, author of “The World According to Garp” and “The Cider House Rules”.

Irving Place in New York City pays tribute to writer Washington Irving, and Irving TX near Dallas also owes its name to Washington Irving.

Useful Resources

Discover the meaning and origin of other Scottish boys’ names.