Donovan
Donovan: name meaning, origin and popularity
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈdɒnəvɪn/ · /ˈdʌnəvɪn/
Meaning and origin of Donovan
Root meaning: “descendant of (a person named) brown & black”
- A male given name transferred from the surname.
Etymology
From Irish Ó Donndubháin (“descendant of (a person named) brown & black”), from donn (“brown”) and dubh (“black”).
How popular is Donovan?
Since 1880, 220 girls and 61,684 boys in the U.S. have been named Donovan (0% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #5579 in 1969. Its highest rank for boys was #176 in 2003. In 2025 it ranked #496 for boys, with 609 babies given the name.
Names similar to Donovan
Names that start with the same letters, most popular first.
More Irish boy names
Sibling name ideas for Donovan
Sister and brother names that share Donovan's Irish roots and are still in the U.S. top 1,000.
Donovan FAQ
What does the name Donovan mean?
Donovan traces back to a root meaning "descendant of (a person named) brown & black". A male given name transferred from the surname. From Irish Ó Donndubháin (“descendant of (a person named) brown & black”), from donn (“brown”) and dubh (“black”).
What is the origin of the name Donovan?
Donovan is listed as a name of Irish origin.
How popular is the name Donovan?
Since 1880, 220 girls and 61,684 boys in the U.S. have been named Donovan (0% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #5579 in 1969. Its highest rank for boys was #176 in 2003. In 2025 it ranked #496 for boys, with 609 babies given the name.
Is Donovan a boy or girl name?
Donovan is mostly a boy name in the U.S.: 220 girls and 61,684 boys since 1880.
Popularity data: U.S. Social Security Administration baby name data, 1880–2025 (names given to 5+ babies per year). Origin and etymology text: Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.