Donovan
A boys’ name of Irish origin, meaning dark brown warrior; surname used as given name.
How Donovan has moved
View as table
| Year | US rank |
|---|---|
| 2015 | #282 |
| 2016 | #306 |
| 2017 | #322 |
| 2018 | #324 |
| 2019 | #352 |
| 2020 | #374 |
| 2021 | #425 |
| 2022 | #446 |
| 2023 | #466 |
| 2024 | #504 |
| 2025 | #496 |
Donovan by the numbers
In 2025, 28 babies in England and Wales were named Donovan. In the US, 1,056 were, though that figure is from 2017, the most recent full year we hold.
For the size of the two countries, it is given several times more often in the US than in England and Wales.
Its American peak was 2,210 babies in 2003, making it a 2000s name.
At its height, in 2005, about 1 in 970 American boys born that year was called Donovan.
Spelled almost the same
Other names in the records within a letter or two of Donovan. Close spellings are not always related names, but they are usually worth seeing together.
- Donavandark warrior; irish surname as given name90 in the US (2017)
- Donovindark warrior; a form of Donovan15 in the US (2017)
- Donnovandark-haired chief; a variant of Donovan14 in the US (2017)
- Donovenbrown-haired noble; a variant of donovan8 in the US (2017)
- Donovynbrown-haired noble; a spelling variant of donovan8 in the US (2017)
- Donovondark brown warrior; variant of Donovan5 in the US (2017)
Sounds like Donovan
Names that are said the same way as Donovan, however they are written. Sounding alike does not mean they share a history.
Other names that mean darkness
Like Donovan, each of these has darkness in its meaning. Different names, different histories, the same idea.
- Adrianfrom Hadria; dark one6,317 in the US (2017)
- Coltondark settlement; coal town5,261 in the US (2017)
- Blakedark or pale3,782 in the US (2017)
- Coledark, swarthy; charcoal3,458 in the US (2017)
- Blakelydark or pale meadow; a place name used as personal name1,244 in the US (2017)
- Sullivandark-eyed or black-eyed one165 in England and Wales (2025)
Other names that mean a gift
Like Donovan, each of these has a gift in its meaning. Different names, different histories, the same idea.
- Matthewgift of God11,623 in the US (2017)
- Mateogift of God7,735 in the US (2017)
- Jonathanyahweh has given; god's gift6,476 in the US (2017)
- Theodoregift of God2,638 in England and Wales (2025)
- Kennedymisshapen head; an Irish surname used as given name4,277 in the US (2017)
- Peytonfrom Paega's town; an English place name used as given name4,236 in the US (2017)
Names about as common as Donovan
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