Irvin
Irvin was the 1937th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 80 babies. Its best year was 1881, when it ranked 140th; the most babies were born in 1923 (817). Over the last ten years it has moved down 459 places. More babies were named Irvin in the 1920s than in any other decade.
Meaning (as Ervin) from Irvin/Irvine or German Erwin · Scottish, German
- Rank in 2025
- #1,937 boys, down 118 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 80boys
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a boy’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 1923817 babies
- Total since 1880
- 39,997babies recorded
What does the name Irvin mean?
Irvin is a spelling of Ervin, pronounced the same way, so it shares Ervin's meaning and origin.
Ervin has two sources, according to Wiktionary. It is a spelling of Irvin, a Scottish surname from the River Irvine, and an Americanized form of the German Erwin. The meaning of the river name is uncertain; DMNES explains the related Germanic name Herwin from heri, "army", and wini, "friend". Ervin was most common in the US in the early 20th century.
heri (Old High German, “army”)wini (Old High German, “friend”)
How sure is this? Uncertain. Two unrelated sources; the river name Irvine is of uncertain meaning, and Erwin's link to Herwin is the usual analysis.
Related names: Irvin, Irving, Erwin, Irvine.
See also: Scottish names.
Sources for this meaning
- Wiktionary, entry 'Ervin', Wiktionary (Wikimedia Foundation)
- Wiktionary, entry 'Irving', Wiktionary (Wikimedia Foundation)
- Dictionary of Medieval Names from European Sources, ed. S. L. Uckelman, Edition 2023 no. 1, s.v. 'Herwin', DMNES (Durham University)
- Wikipedia, 'Ervin (given name)', Wikipedia (Wikimedia Foundation)
Irvin popularity since 1880
A few girls are given the name too: 75 since 1916.
| Year | Rank (boys) | Babies (boys) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #1,937 | 80 |
| 2020 | #1,819 | 82 |
| 2010 | #922 | 219 |
| 2000 | #661 | 272 |
| 1990 | #613 | 270 |
| 1980 | #865 | 106 |
| 1970 | #644 | 160 |
| 1960 | #461 | 298 |
| 1950 | #349 | 371 |
| 1940 | #276 | 409 |
| 1930 | #218 | 598 |
| 1920 | #182 | 775 |
| 1910 | #192 | 137 |
| 1900 | #177 | 118 |
| 1890 | #172 | 82 |
| 1880 | #159 | 86 |
How popular is Irvin, counting every spelling?
Irvin is a spelling of Ervin, a name family that ranked #1,094 for boys in 2025 once every spelling is counted together, compared with #1,937 for Irvin on its own. Together these spellings went to 181 boys in 2025.
| Spelling | Babies 2025 | Official rank | Babies 2021–2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ervin | 101 | #1,656 | 452 |
| Irvin | 80 | #1,937 | 404 |
Spellings count together when they sound the same in American English and are used for the same sex; nicknames and forms that sound different (such as Theo and Theodore) are kept apart. How we group spellings.
How many kids will share the name Irvin?
80 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Irvin (0.02 per 1,000 births). For a boy named Irvin born in 2025, the chance that another child with the same name is in a class of 20 children the same age is under 1 in 50. If every grade liked the name as much as the 2025 babies do, only about one elementary school in 105 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Irvin.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Irvin?
About 16,500 people born in the US named Irvin are alive today, with a median age of 38; half are between 23 and 68. That makes Irvin mostly worn by adults in their thirties to fifties. The wide spread shows a name popular in two different eras.
Babies given the name each year (SSA) times the share of that birth year still alive (SSA life tables). Counts people born in the US only. Method.
Irvin by state
How common Irvin was among boys born in each state in 2021–2025. It is notably more common than nationally in Texas (1.9×), California (1.9×). In 47 states fewer than five boys a year got the name, too few for SSA to publish, so those states show as zero.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Irvin: their share of US boys followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Irvin, they share its era and feel.
Questions about the name Irvin
What does Irvin mean?
Irvin is a spelling of Ervin, usually explained as “from Irvin/Irvine or German Erwin”, but this is uncertain. Certainty: uncertain.
How popular is the name Irvin?
Irvin was the 1937th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 80 babies. Its best year was 1881, when it ranked 140th; the most babies were born in 1923 (817). Over the last ten years it has moved down 459 places. More babies were named Irvin in the 1920s than in any other decade.
Is Irvin a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a boy’s name given the name Irvin in the US.
Where is Irvin most popular?
In 2021–2025, Irvin was most common in Texas (0.09 per 1,000 boys), followed by California and Arizona.