Nevan (Irish: Naomhán, pronounced [ˈn̪ˠiːwaːnˠ]; meaning "saintly, holy",[1][2] or "little saint"[2][3]) was a saint in Irish folklore whose feast day was reputedly marked in mid-September.[4] In Seathrún Céitinn's General History of Ireland (first published in 1723), Naomhán is described as the "son of Maolciarain, primate of Ireland".[5][6]

Sometimes associated with the surname MacNiven,[7] the name is also sometimes used as a given name for boys.[8][9]

With a different origin, Nevan is also a popular Islamic name found throughout North Africa, Arabia, and the Indian subcontinent.[10][11]

Notable people

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Baby Names Encyclopedia". babynamespedia.com. Retrieved 8 September 2008.
  2. ^ a b Coghlan, Ronan. "Irish First Names 2nd Edition". Archived from the original on 12 October 2007 – via irelandseye.com.
  3. ^ "Nevan". babynames.com. Retrieved 8 September 2008.
  4. ^ Woulfe, Patrick (1923). "Naomhán". Irish Names and Surnames. Dublin: M. H. Gill & Son.
  5. ^ Keating, Geoffrey (1723). "Section 25. XXV". The History of Ireland. After this Naomhan, son of Maoilciarain, chief artificer of Ireland [..] died
  6. ^ Keating, Geoffrey (1820). General History of Ireland (2nd ed.). p. 506. JSTOR community.29825285. After these outrages of the Danes, the pious Naomhán, son of Maolciarain, primate of Ireland, was translated to a better life
  7. ^ Steer, K. A.; Bannerman, J. W. M.; Collings, G. H. (1977). Late Medieval Monumental Sculpture in the West Highlands. Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland. ISBN 9780114913830. Nevinus is the Latinised form of the Gaelic forename Naomhán, literally 'little saint or holy one', which appears in the well-known Argyll surname now generally written MacNiven
  8. ^ "Nevan". BabyNames Country. Retrieved 8 September 2008.
  9. ^ Cresswell, Julia (1996). Collins Gem Irish First Names. Harper Collins. p. 188. ISBN 9780004709420. Nevan Naomhán m . Nevan means 'holy' and was the name of an Irish saint. There is also a surname Nevin [..] Nevin and Nevan as first names in the USA is more likely to derive from the surname
  10. ^ "Nevan Name Meaning - Nevan Meaning & Definition". Hamariweb.com. Retrieved 17 May 2021.
  11. ^ "What Does The Name Nevan Mean?". The Meaning of Names. Retrieved 17 May 2021.