Donovan

Updated: October 14, 2023 by Stephanie Graham

Donovan is an Irish baby boy’s name that means “dark.” Like many Irish classics, Donovan is an Anglicized name. In this case, Donovan derives from Donndubán. Donovan has been a classic name since at least 1900, but in a rare twist, it has steadily increased in popularity since the beginning of the 20th century and only peaked in 2003.

Meaning and Origin of the name Donovan:

Donovan is a boy's name of Irish origin meaning “dark.”

Donovan is a baby boy’s name of Irish origin that means “dark.” Donovan is the Anglicized form of the name Donndubán. It is also derived from the Irish surname Ó Donndubháin, which is made up of donn (meaning “brown”) and dubhan (meaning “black”).

Symbolism of the name Donovan:

Donovan means “dark” and most likely referred to a person who had dark hair or eyes. In a country that has high concentrations of red-haired and blonde people with light-colored eyes, someone of a darker coloration was noteworthy.

Nicknames for the name Donovan:

Donovan is a formal sounding name with a variety of nicknames that sound fun and informal. Below is a list of nicknames to choose from when deciding on a nickname for your baby boy. Some of the nicknames are common and some are unique.

Don
Donnie
Donny
Nova
Van
Vee
Dee

Style of the name Donovan:

Traditional

Gender of the name Donovan:

Donovan is a boy's name.

Pronunciation of the name Donovan:

DAHN-ə-vən

Number of syllables in the name Donovan:

Three

Emotion evoked from the name Donovan:

Donovan evokes feelings of practicality and intelligence.

Alternative spellings for the name Donovan:

Danavan
Donavan
Donovahn
Donoven
Donevahn

Popularity of the name Donovan:

According to the Social Security Administration, Donovan is a popular baby boy’s name. Donovan has been in the top 1000 baby names since 1900. It peaked in 2003 at #176.