Donovan
Donovan is a boy's name of Irish origin.
Meaning
Dark brown or dark chieftain.
Origin and history
Donovan is an Anglicized Irish surname derived from Ó Donndubháin. In the United States, it gained steady popularity as a given name in the late 20th and early 21st centuries, remaining a well-established choice for boys.
Popularity in the United States
61,684 babies in the United States have been named Donovan since 1880. It ranks #440 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #442.
States where it is most popular
- CA (14.4 %)
- TX (8.1 %)
- FL (5.3 %)
- NY (5.1 %)
- OH (4.5 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 0 |
| 1890-1900 | 0 |
| 1900-1910 | 83 |
| 1910-1920 | 335 |
| 1920-1930 | 719 |
| 1930-1940 | 866 |
| 1940-1950 | 717 |
| 1950-1960 | 876 |
| 1960-1970 | 1,813 |
| 1970-1980 | 3,750 |
| 1980-1990 | 4,553 |
| 1990-2000 | 12,239 |
| 2000-2010 | 19,329 |
| 2010-2019 | 12,289 |
| 2020-2029 | 4,115 |
Famous people named Donovan
- Donovan Mitchell: Athlete, Basketball player
- Donovan McNabb: Athlete, Football player
- Donovan Leitch: Musician, Singer-songwriter
Nicknames
Don, Donny, Van
Fun facts
- The name combines the elements 'donn' (meaning brown or dark) and 'dubh' (meaning dark or black).
- Originally an Irish clan name from County Limerick, it transitioned into a popular given name in English-speaking countries.