Donovan
Donovan is an Irish name derived from the Gaelic "Ó Donndubháin," meaning "descendant of Donndubhán" where "donn" means brown and "dubh" means dark or black. It originally referred to a dark-haired chieftain and has evolved from a surname into a popular given name with Celtic charm.
Current Popularity
Popularity over time
Dashed bar: 2026 (projected): 606. How this is calculated
Yearly values
- 2011: 1,363
- 2012: 1,272
- 2013: 1,237
- 2014: 1,271
- 2015: 1,304
- 2016: 1,160
- 2017: 1,061
- 2018: 1,030
- 2019: 947
- 2020: 830
- 2021: 727
- 2022: 693
- 2023: 652
- 2024: 604
- 2025: 609
- 2026 (projected): 606
Good to Know
- •Easy to spell and pronounce in English-speaking countries
- •Has a musical, artistic association thanks to 1960s folk singer Donovan
- •Works well in professional settings while maintaining a friendly feel
- •Strong Irish heritage appeals to those seeking Celtic roots
Similar Names
Famous People
Donovan
Scottish singer-songwriter and 1960s icon
Donovan McNabb
Former NFL quarterback
Donovan Mitchell
NBA basketball player
Donovan Bailey
Olympic gold medalist sprinter
Statistics
61,684
Total births since 1880
2003
Peak year
Discovery
Keep browsing
Rising now
Browse trending names
Names that climbed the most between 2020 and 2025.
Always popular
Explore timeless classics
Names that have sat in the top 50 for decades.
For this gender
See all-time favorites
The most common names since 1880, by total births.
Stories
Read famous-name profiles
How well-known people changed the names they carried.
Guides
Browse recent articles
Recent articles on naming trends.