How to say it
DON · o · van
ˈdɒn.ə.vən
Masculine
Donovan
Dark chieftain
What it means
An Irish surname from Ó Donnabháin, 'descendant of the dark or brown-haired chieftain.'
Donovan is an anglicized Irish surname from Ó Donnabháin, joining donn, 'dark or brown,' to a root for 'chieftain,' so 'dark-haired little chief.' It crossed into first-name use and got a folk-rock glow from the 1960s singer Donovan. Smooth and confident, with Don as the short. Said DON-uh-vun.
How to spell Donovan
The standard spelling is Donovan. Common variants include Donavan, Donovon, Donnubhan, but Donovan is the most widely used form.
Popularity over time
peaked at #176 in 2003, currently #496 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–2025. Reviewed July 2026. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Nickname
Don.
- Pop culture
1960s folk singer Donovan.
Who's worn it
Historical figures, characters, and public faces who share the name. The cultural surface, for whatever weight you want to give it.
- Donovan Scottish singer and songwriter of the 1960s folk scene
Spelling variants
- Donavan
- Donovon
- Donnubhan
Names with the same feeling
See Donovan from another angle
By meaning
By style
Common questions
- What does the name Donovan mean?
- An Irish surname from Ó Donnabháin, 'descendant of the dark or brown-haired chieftain.'
- What does Donovan mean in Irish?
- In Irish, Donovan means "Dark chieftain." Donovan is an anglicized Irish surname from Ó Donnabháin, joining donn, 'dark or brown,' to a root for 'chieftain,' so 'dark-haired little chief.' It crossed into first-name use and got a folk-rock glow from the 1960s singer Donovan. Smooth and confident, with Don as the short. Said DON-uh-vun.
- How do you pronounce Donovan?
- Donovan is pronounced ˈdɒn.ə.vən. Say it as DON-o-van, with the stress on the "don" syllable.
- How do you spell Donovan?
- The standard spelling is Donovan. Common spelling variants include Donavan, Donovon, Donnubhan.
- Is Donovan a boy or girl name?
- Donovan is traditionally a masculine name.
- How popular is the name Donovan?
- Donovan ranked #496 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.