Cavanaugh \c(a)-vanau-gh, cav(a)-naugh\ as a girl's name (also used as boy's name Cavanaugh), is pronounced KA-ven-naw. It is of Middle English and Irish origin, and the meaning of Cavanaugh is "chubby; comely".

Cavanaugh has 3 variant forms: Cavanagh, Kavanagh and Kavanaugh.