Boy name · Irish Gaelic
Donovan
Name meaning, origin and popularity
: dark brownDonovan is a boy's name that comes from Irish Gaelic and means "dark brown". It is used in English and Irish.
- Meaning
- Dark brown
- Origin
- Irish Gaelic
- Gender
- Boy
- US rank
- #496 in 2025
Meaning and origin of Donovan
As a boy's name, Donovan comes from Irish Gaelic and means "dark brown". It is used in English and Irish.
In Irish, say DON-a-van. Respellings are a guide; accents vary by region.
Donovan is also a surname: the 878th most common in the 2020 US Census, held by 38,902 people. See the most common last names.
Meanings come from published name dictionaries, led by Behind the Name. How we research names
Donovan on Nomezo lists
What our editors wrote about Donovan on 2 lists.
“From Ó Donndubháin, built on donn, brown, and dubh, dark. Say DON-a-van.”
From Irish boy names, irish surnames used as boy names
“Ó Donndubháin, descendant of Donndubán”
From Irish last names, irish Ó surnames (O' names)
How popular is Donovan?
- US rank in 2025
- #496
- 609 babies, 357 per million boys
- Best rank
- #176 in 2003
- 2,211 babies that year
- Babies since 1900
- At least 61,684
- Years with under 5 are not listed
| 1880s | 0 per million |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 0 per million |
| 1900s | 61 per million |
| 1910s | 50 per million |
| 1920s | 65 per million |
| 1930s | 82 per million |
| 1940s | 48 per million |
| 1950s | 43 per million |
| 1960s | 94 per million |
| 1970s | 227 per million |
| 1980s | 247 per million |
| 1990s | 628 per million |
| 2000s | 968 per million |
| 2010s | 654 per million |
| 2020s | 397 per million |
| Year | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #306 | #323 | #325 | #352 | #374 | #425 | #448 | #468 | #506 | #496 |
Source: US Social Security Administration baby-name data, 1880 to 2025, as published in 2026. Each spelling is counted separately, a name given to fewer than 5 babies of one sex in a year is left out, and few people born before 1937 have records, which is why the chart shows babies per million rather than raw counts.
Names with a similar meaning
- MelaniaBlack, dark (Greek, girl)
- MelanieBlack, dark (Greek, girl)
- DonnchadhBrown warrior (Scottish Gaelic, boy)
- DouglasDark river (Scottish Gaelic, boy)
- DoyleDescendant of the dark stranger (Irish Gaelic, boy)
- DuffDark (Scottish Gaelic, boy)
- DuncanBrown warrior (Scottish Gaelic, boy)
- KedarDark (Hebrew, boy)
- KeiraDark one (Irish Gaelic, girl)
- KieranLittle dark one (Irish Gaelic, boy)
- MauriceDark-skinned, Moorish (Latin, boy)
- AdhamBlack, dark (Arabic, boy)
- ArunReddish-brown; dawn (Sanskrit, boy)
- BlakelyDark clearing (Old English, girl)
- CiarBlack, dark (Irish Gaelic, unisex)
Middle names for Donovan
Picked from our middle-name lists with a different first letter and a shorter length, so the full name flows.
More boy names from Irish Gaelic
- OscarPossibly deer friend (Irish Gaelic, boy)
- FinnFair, white (Irish Gaelic, boy)
- FergusMan of vigor (Irish Gaelic, boy)
- KevinGentle birth (Irish Gaelic, boy)
- RonanLittle seal (Irish Gaelic, boy)
- RoryRed king (Irish Gaelic, boy)
- AidanLittle fire (Irish Gaelic, boy)
- AidenLittle fire (Irish Gaelic, boy)
- AodhFire, flame (Irish Gaelic, boy)
- AydenVariant of Aidan, little fire (Irish Gaelic, boy)
- BarryFair-haired (Irish Gaelic, boy)
- BrendanA prince (Irish Gaelic, boy)
- CaseyVigilant, watchful (Irish Gaelic, unisex)
- CassidyCurly-haired (Irish Gaelic, unisex)
- CodyDescendant of the helpful one (Irish Gaelic, boy)
- ConanLittle hound or little wolf (Irish Gaelic, boy)
- ConnorLover of hounds (Irish Gaelic, boy)
- ConorLover of hounds (Irish Gaelic, boy)
Donovan: common questions
What does the name Donovan mean?
Donovan comes from Irish Gaelic and means "dark brown".
Is Donovan a boy or girl name?
Donovan is mainly a boy's name.
Where does the name Donovan come from?
Donovan comes from Irish Gaelic and means "dark brown". Today it is used in English and Irish.
How popular is the name Donovan?
Donovan ranked #496 in the US in 2025, with 609 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
What middle names go with Donovan?
Middle names that flow well with Donovan include Alton, Clark, Elton, Grant and Lance. A different first letter and a contrasting length usually sound best.