The name Irven is of Welsh origin and means "great". It is derived from the ancient Welsh word "yr", meaning "great", and the suffix "-wen", which denotes a beautiful or fair woman.
Irven was once a popular name in Wales during the Middle Ages, but its usage has since declined. However, it has experienced a small resurgence in recent years as parents seek out unique and meaningful names for their children.
Despite its Welsh origins, Irven is not widely recognized outside of Wales. It is considered an unusual name even within Wales, with very few people bearing the name today. Nevertheless, those who do carry the name Irven are proud of its rich history and beautiful meaning.
The name Irven has a fascinating history of usage in the United States, as reflected in the birth statistics from 1880 to 1996.
During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, there was a steady increase in the number of babies named Irven. The first recorded births were in 1880 and 1882, with five occurrences each year. This trend continued with fluctuations until 1913 when there were a significant 23 births.
The peak popularity of the name Irven was reached between 1915 and 1927. During this period, the number of annual births ranged from a low of 18 in 1924 to a high of 45 in 1921. This sustained popularity suggests that Irven was considered an attractive name choice for parents during this time.
However, after 1927, there was a decline in the usage of the name Irven. The annual births fluctuated between 8 and 39 until 1940 when only 11 babies were named Irven. This downward trend continued throughout the mid-20th century, with most years recording fewer than ten Irvens.
In more recent times, from 1982 to 1996, there was a consistent but low usage of the name Irven, with five births recorded each year. Overall, between 1880 and 1996, there were a total of 1,086 babies named Irven in the United States.
While these statistics do not provide information about the meaning or origin of the name Irven, they do offer insights into its historical usage and popularity. They show that while Irven was once a popular choice for parents, it has since fallen out of favor, becoming quite rare today.