UK boy's name
Gavan
An Irish masculine name meaning "small hawk" or "ardent fighter".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2005. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Gavan is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Gavan popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2005 in this profile. In that release it ranked #2754, with 5 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2005, with 5 births.
This profile covers 5 England and Wales registrations across 1 recorded years from 2005 to 2005. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
Gavan is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.
We estimate that about 5 living people in the UK are called Gavan. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2006 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Gavan ranked #2754 for boys in England and Wales in 2005, with 5 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2005, when 5 boys were registered as Gavan.
- • About 5 living people in the UK are estimated to have Gavan as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#2754
2005
Births in 2005
5
Latest year
Peak year
2005
5 births
Estimated living
5
2026
Meaning
What does Gavan mean?
The name Gavan has its origins in the Celtic languages, particularly in Irish Gaelic and Welsh. It is derived from the Old Irish word "gabháin," meaning "small mouth" or "little hawk." This suggests that the name may have originally been a descriptive nickname or a reference to a person's physical characteristics or occupation.
In Welsh, the name is spelled "Gafan," and it is believed to be related to the Welsh word "gafan," meaning "hook" or "crook." This could indicate a connection to fishing or hunting activities in the region's early history.
The earliest recorded use of the name Gavan dates back to the 7th century AD, when it appeared in Irish annals and manuscripts. One notable mention is in the Annals of Ulster, which refer to a person named Gavan mac Colmáin, who was a king of the Uí Cheinnselaig dynasty in the late 7th century.
In the 12th century, the name is found in the Icelandic saga Landnámabók, which mentions a Viking settler named Gavan who established a settlement in Iceland. This suggests that the name had spread beyond its Celtic origins and was in use among Norse populations as well.
Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals with the name Gavan:
1. Gavan Duffy (1882-1951), an Australian lawyer and politician who served as a member of the Australian House of Representatives and was a prominent advocate for Irish nationalism.
2. Gavan Tredoux (1913-1998), a South African actor and playwright known for his work in Afrikaans theater and films.
3. Gavan O'Herlihy (1954-2012), an Irish actor best known for his roles in films such as "Willow" and "Never Say Never Again."
4. Gavan Hennigan (born 1984), an Irish soccer player who has played for various clubs in Ireland and England.
5. Gavan McCaughey (born 1976), an Australian rugby union player who represented Australia in several international competitions.
While the name Gavan is not as common as some other Celtic names, it has endured through the centuries and continues to be used in various parts of the world, particularly in Ireland, Wales, and other regions with Celtic cultural influences.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Decades
Gavan by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Gavan was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | #2754 | 5 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Gavan
- George 121,258
- Gabriel 20,581
- Grayson 7,636
- Gregory 2,925
- Guy 2,646
- Gareth 2,092
- Gethin 1,880
- Georgie 1,872
- Gary 1,575
- Gavin 1,422
- Giovanni 1,252
- Grant 1,199
FAQ
Gavan: questions and answers
How popular is the name Gavan in the UK right now?
In 2005, Gavan was ranked #2754 for boys in England and Wales, with 5 births registered.
When was Gavan most popular?
The peak year on record was 2005, with 5 babies registered as Gavan in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Gavan?
An Irish masculine name meaning "small hawk" or "ardent fighter".
How many people are called Gavan in the UK?
A total of 5 babies have been registered as Gavan across the 1 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.