Donovan Name Meaning, Origin and Popularity
Donovan is predominantly used for boys. The statistics below show this exact spelling in official U.S. records.
How Do You Spell Donovan?
Donovan is spelled D-O-N-O-V-A-N. The name has 7 letters.
Donovan at a Glance
- Usage
- Predominantly used for boys
- Meaning
- Donovan means “descendant of Donndubhán”, with Donndubhán derived from Irish elements meaning “dark” or “brown.”
- Origin
- Donovan is a surname-based given name originating from the Irish surname Ó Donnabháin.
- Pronunciation
- DON-uh-vuhn · 3 syllables
Donovan Popularity in 2025
Rank#495
Recorded Births609
- Boys usage rose 11 places to #495 and recorded 5 more births compared with 2024.
Figures reflect this exact spelling in the latest available U.S. Social Security Administration records. See the complete year-by-year trend.
What Does the Name Donovan Mean?
Donovan means “descendant of Donndubhán”, with Donndubhán derived from Irish elements meaning “dark” or “brown.”
Origin: Donovan is a surname-based given name originating from the Irish surname Ó Donnabháin.
How Do You Pronounce Donovan?
PronunciationDON-uh-vuhn
Syllables3
What Is the History of the Name Donovan?
- History
- The name Donovan is associated with an Irish clan historically found in County Cork and County Kerry in Ireland.
Donovan Popularity by Year
The table below shows the most recent available records for this exact spelling from 2008 through 2025. Use the full history page to explore every recorded year.
| Year | Usage Category | Recorded Births | National Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Boys | 609 | #495 |
| 2024 | Boys | 604 | #506 |
| 2023 | Boys | 652 | #468 |
| 2022 | Boys | 693 | #448 |
| 2021 | Boys | 727 | #424 |
| 2020 | Boys | 830 | #374 |
| 2019 | Boys | 947 | #352 |
| 2018 | Girls | 5 | #15,682 |
| 2018 | Boys | 1,030 | #323 |
| 2017 | Girls | 5 | #15,902 |
| 2017 | Boys | 1,061 | #323 |
| 2016 | Girls | 5 | #16,215 |
| 2016 | Boys | 1,160 | #306 |
| 2015 | Boys | 1,304 | #282 |
| 2014 | Girls | 5 | #16,513 |
| 2014 | Boys | 1,271 | #284 |
| 2013 | Boys | 1,237 | #281 |
| 2012 | Boys | 1,272 | #276 |
| 2011 | Boys | 1,363 | #254 |
| 2010 | Girls | 5 | #16,992 |
| 2010 | Boys | 1,644 | #217 |
| 2009 | Boys | 1,741 | #215 |
| 2008 | Girls | 7 | #13,832 |
| 2008 | Boys | 1,786 | #214 |
When Was Donovan Most Popular?
Peak years are based on the highest recorded birth totals for this exact spelling and usage category. They are ordered by birth count, not chronologically.
2003 · Boys
2,211 recorded births
National rank #176
2005 · Boys
2,186 recorded births
National rank #185
2004 · Boys
2,055 recorded births
National rank #187
2007 · Boys
2,044 recorded births
National rank #197
Where Donovan Ranked Highest in 2025
State rankings are calculated separately for girls and boys within each state. The SSA omits state-level names recorded fewer than five times, so low visible counts can still represent a relatively high state rank.
Top States for Boys
| State | Rank | Recorded Births |
|---|---|---|
| NJ | #313 | 27 |
| CA | #376 | 91 |
| CT | #382 | 7 |
| KS | #386 | 9 |
| VA | #388 | 20 |
| WI | #411 | 12 |
| WA | #425 | 17 |
| ID | #435 | 5 |