Irish boy name
Cairbre Name Meaning, Origin & Pronunciation
Cairbre means legendary king. Old Irish name of several legendary kings, of uncertain meaning.
Cairbre is a name that appears widely in early Irish tradition, borne by kings, poets and heroes. Cairbre Lifechair, a son of Cormac mac Airt, is a High King of Ireland in the Kings Cycle, while Cairbre mac Étaíne is the poet of the Tuatha Dé Danann who satirised Bres. The place name Carbery, in West Cork, preserves the name. It is easy to say for English speakers, who often use Carbry, and it is an unusual but accessible Irish name with a strong historical background.
Variants of Cairbre
CairpreCoirpreCarbryCarbery
Cairbre popularity: Ireland vs the US
Cairbre does not appear in the official Irish or US baby name rankings, which only list names given to a handful of babies a year. It is a rare choice in both countries.
Data: US Social Security Administration (public domain) and Central Statistics Office, Ireland (CC BY 4.0). Irish accented spellings (such as Síle) are only recorded from 2018, so earlier years combine spellings.
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Cairbre mean?
Cairbre means "legendary king". Old Irish name of several legendary kings, of uncertain meaning.
How do you pronounce Cairbre?
Cairbre is pronounced KAR-bruh.
What is the origin of Cairbre?
Cairbre is of Irish origin. Old Irish name of several legendary kings, of uncertain meaning.