Boy's name

Cairbre

“KAR-bra”

'charioteer'

Carbry

Source: Woulfe, Irish Names and Surnames (1923) ↗

The story behind the name

Once common among the O'Farrells and O'Beirnes, and borne by four saintly bishops in the Martyrology of Donegal.

Where the name belongs

Longford Roscommon

Quick answers

How do you pronounce Cairbre?

Cairbre is pronounced “KAR-bra”. Irish has three main dialect groups (Ulster, Connacht and Munster) and many names are said differently in each. The respellings here give the pronunciation most commonly heard in Irish English; where a well-known variant exists, both are shown.

What does the name Cairbre mean?

Cairbre means 'charioteer'.

Is Cairbre a boy's or a girl's name?

Cairbre is traditionally a boy's name in Ireland.

How else is Cairbre spelled?

Other spellings and equivalents include Carbry. Irish names were written down by English-speaking clerks for centuries, which is why so many spellings survive for one name.

Related names

Caitlín Conchobhar Ruairí Cathal Fearghal Toirdhealbhach Ailill Cáit

Meanings follow Ó Corráin & Maguire's Irish Names and Woulfe; pronunciations give the commonest Irish-English form. Know this name better — a dialect pronunciation, a family tradition? Tell us. · All Irish names A–Z