Naomhán is an Irish given name for boys, derived from the Irish word naomh meaning "saint" combined with a diminutive suffix, thus meaning "little saint." This name reflects the early Christian tradition in Ireland of naming children after religious concepts and figures.
Naomhán is closely related to the Scottish name Niven and the Irish Nevan, both of which share the same root meaning of "little saint." The feminine form Naomh is a direct counterpart. The name also gave rise to several surnames, such as the Gaelic Mac Naoimhín (Scottish Gaelic), MacNevin (Irish), Nevin 1 (Irish), MacNiven (Scottish), and Niven (Scottish). These surnames often arose from patronymic forms meaning "descendant of Naomhán."
In Irish naming tradition, diminutives are common to denote affection or smallness, and -án is a frequent diminutive suffix. Naomhán, therefore, conveys a sense of endearment and piety, ideal for a child.
- Meaning: "little saint"
- Origin: Irish
- Type: Given name (masculine)
- Usage regions: Ireland, historically also Scotland in forms like Niven