Kavanagh
- Gender
- Boy
- Say it
- KAV-uh-nuh
- Origin
- Irish
Kavanagh is a boys' name of Irish origin. Too few babies were given it in the latest year to rank.
What does Kavanagh mean?
Irish: Irish surname Caomhánach, from the personal name Caomhán
From the Irish surname Caomhánach, linked to the personal name Caomhán, which comes from caomh meaning gentle.
Is Kavanagh a girl's or a boy's name?
Kavanagh is a boys' name.
How popular is Kavanagh in the UK?
No boys in the UK were given it in 2025, or too few to be listed. Its busiest year was 1998, with 7 boys.
Kavanagh in the UK, year by year
| Year | Boys | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 3 | #3,593 |
| 2002 | 0 | – |
| 2001 | 3 | #3,255 |
| 2000 | 6 | #1,977 |
| 1999 | 5 | #2,184 |
| 1998 | 7 | #1,727 |
Names like Kavanagh
Names given in the same years and the same naming tradition, with a similar sound.
Ronan, Declan, Keenan, Keelan, Regan, Kenan, Ryan, Keegan, Conlan, Conall, Brogan, Finnian
More Irish names
Oscar, Rowan, Rory, Maeve, Finn, Aiden, Nolan, Quinn, Orla, Cody, Erin, Connor, Casey, Kennedy, Callan, Lennon
Sources
Figures from Baby names in England and Wales (Office for National Statistics), Babies' first names (National Records of Scotland) and Baby names (Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency). Nameling last updated them on 20 October 2026. How the figures are worked out, and the data to download.
To cite this page: Nameling, “Kavanagh: name meaning, origin and popularity”, https://www.nameling.co.uk/names/kavanagh, updated 20 October 2026.