Boy's name

Garbhán

“GAR-vawn”

from garbh, 'rough' — 'little rough one'

GarvanGarvin
Why it is said that way

The bh in the middle is a v and the fada makes the second a long: GAR-vawn.

  • bh, mh → v — or w in the middle of a word
  • á é í ó ú (the fada) → a long vowel — and never optional

All seven rules, and every name with a respelling →

The story behind the name

St Garbhán gave his name to Dungarvan in County Waterford — Dún Garbháin, 'Garbhán's fort'.

Where the name belongs

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