Donovan first name popularity, history and meaning

Find out how popular the first name Donovan has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Meaning of Donovan

Derivative of the Irish surname Donovan, meaning "dark brown" or "brown-haired man".

Popularity of Donovan by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Donovan is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 100% of people named Donovan being male.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 649 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Donovan.

Year Male Count Female Count
2023 649 0
2022 691 0
2021 725 0
2020 829 0
2019 944 0
2018 1,028 5
2017 1,059 5
2016 1,159 5
2015 1,301 0
2014 1,270 5
2013 1,237 0
2012 1,272 0
2011 1,363 0
2010 1,642 5
2009 1,741 0
2008 1,784 7
2007 2,044 6
2006 1,967 0
2005 2,185 0
2004 2,055 13
2003 2,211 8
2002 1,964 7
2001 1,657 7
2000 1,718 12
1999 1,632 10
1998 1,542 11
1997 1,449 9
1996 1,201 0
1995 1,077 9
1994 1,109 0
1993 1,144 6
1992 1,176 7
1991 1,059 5
1990 851 6
1989 772 0
1988 672 8
1987 630 9
1986 494 9
1985 460 6
1984 332 8
1983 279 0
1982 279 0
1981 289 6
1980 344 0
1979 317 0
1978 293 7
1977 324 0
1976 348 0
1975 338 0
1974 369 0

The history of the first name Donovan

The name Donovan has its origins in the Irish language, where it is derived from the Gaelic words "donn" meaning "brown" and "aven" meaning "river" or "valley." The name is thought to have emerged during the medieval period in Ireland, referring to someone who lived near a brown river or in a brown valley.

One of the earliest recorded uses of the name Donovan can be found in the Irish Annals, which mention a Donovan O'Brien who was the King of Thomond in the 12th century. This suggests that the name was already in use as a given name among the Irish nobility during that time.

In the 13th century, the name appears in the form "Donnubhan" in the Annals of Loch Cé, referring to a member of the O'Donnubhain clan. This clan was based in County Cork, and the name's association with this region further reinforces its Irish origins.

One of the most famous historical figures to bear the name Donovan was Donovan O'Malley (c. 1460-1536), a chieftain of the O'Malley clan in County Mayo, Ireland. He was known for his naval exploits and his leadership during the Tudor conquest of Ireland.

In the 16th century, the name Donovan appears in the English translation of the Irish Annals, where it is used to refer to members of the O'Donovan clan, a prominent Gaelic family in County Cork.

Another notable Donovan was Donovan Leitch (1946-2012), a Scottish singer-songwriter and guitarist who was a leading figure in the British folk and psychedelic rock movements of the 1960s. He was known for his hits such as "Mellow Yellow" and "Sunshine Superman."

Other historical figures with the name Donovan include Donovan Wylie (born 1971), a Northern Irish photographer and artist known for his work documenting the landscape and architecture of Northern Ireland; Donovan Reid (born 1957), a Canadian actor and voice artist; and Donovan Ricketts (born 1977), a Jamaican former professional soccer goalkeeper.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Donovan was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Donovan, please contact us.

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"Donovan first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on October 31, 2024. http://namecensus.com/first-names/donovan-meaning-and-history/.

"Donovan first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/first-names/donovan-meaning-and-history/. Accessed 31 October, 2024

Donovan first name popularity, history and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/first-names/donovan-meaning-and-history/.

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