Boy's name

Cathbharr

“KAH-var”

cath, 'battle', and barr, 'head': hence a helmet

Caffar

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

The story behind the name

A name that belonged almost entirely to one family. Woulfe says it was peculiar to the O'Donnells of Tirconnell.

Quick answers

How do you pronounce Cathbharr?

Cathbharr is pronounced “KAH-var”. 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 Cathbharr mean?

Cathbharr means cath, 'battle', and barr, 'head': hence a helmet.

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

Cathbharr is traditionally a boy's name in Ireland.

How else is Cathbharr spelled?

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

Related names

Cathal Cathaoir

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