Donovan
Complete Name Analysis & Etymology Guide
61,290 Total Births
145 Years of Data
2003 Peak Popularity Year
2,219 Peak Births

Donovan Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis

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Summary

The name Donovan has Irish roots, meaning 'little brown one', and evolved from the surname O'Donnabhain. It gained popularity in the 20th century and is often regarded as trendy and unique. The name has no direct biblical relevance but is associated with various notable individuals.

Etymology & Cultural Background of "Donovan"

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Pronunciation

/ˈdɒnəvən/

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Origin

Irish

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Etymology

The name Donovan is derived from the Irish surname 'O'Donnabhain', meaning 'descendant of Donnabhain', which comes from the personal name 'Donnabhán', meaning 'little brown one'.

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Meaning

little brown one

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Language Evolution

O'Donnabhain, Donnabhán, Donovan

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Historical Usage

The name Donovan became popular in the 20th century, particularly in the United States, due to its association with notable figures and cultural influences.

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Variants & Derivatives

Don, Donny, Donovan's

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Modern Popularity & Image

Currently, Donovan is viewed as a distinctive and trendy name, often associated with creativity and individuality.

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Famous People

Donovan Leitch, Donovan McNabb, Donovan Bailey

📊 Donovan Name Trend Analysis

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Girl Name Trend

Recent 3-Year Analysis

3-Year Trend: Stable
25-Year Trend: Relatively Stable
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Boy Name Trend

Recent 3-Year Analysis

3-Year Trend: Declining
25-Year Trend: Relatively Stable

Explore More Donovan Name Visualizations

✨ Donovan Name Meaning & Significance

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Popularity Trend

Highly Popular name with 2,219 peak births in 2003

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Geographic Spread

Popular across 51 US states, with strongest presence in Nevada

Historical Span

Data spanning 145 years from 1880 to 2024, showing long-term trends

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Generational Impact

Influenced 11 different American generations with varying popularity

🔊 Same Pronunciation Names for "Donovan" - Complete Guide (1 Names)

Discover the ultimate list of homophone names and same pronunciation names that sound identical to "Donovan". These names share the same pronunciation but may have different spellings, offering alternative options for parents seeking similar-sounding names. Whether you're looking for American or British pronunciation variations, this comprehensive guide includes 1 carefully curated names that maintain the same phonetic sound.

Why explore same pronunciation names? Many parents search for homophone names to find alternative spellings that might be more unique or culturally significant. This ultimate list covers both American and British pronunciation patterns, ensuring you find the perfect variation of "Donovan" that fits your preferences.

Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Donovan"

Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.

Yearly Ranking History of "Donovan"

"Donovan" Popularity Across American Generations

Generation Gender Rank Total Names
G.I. Generation (1901-1927) Boy 882nd of 7545 952
Silent Generation (1928-1945) Boy 693rd of 6773 1,452
Baby Boomers (1946-1964) Boy 778th of 7552 1,703
Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) Boy 444th of 10718 5,389
Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) Boy 319th of 16616 11,825
Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) Boy 209th of 24088 28,230
Generation Alpha (2013-2024) Boy 347th of 23106 11,511
Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) Girl 12316th of 19264 26
Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) Girl 11096th of 27321 79
Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) Girl 13503rd of 35406 95
Generation Alpha (2013-2024) Girl 21584th of 30306 20

Regional Popularity of "Donovan" by Generation for Male Names

TOP(%) MidWest Northeast South West
G.I. Generation
(1901-1927)
32.49%
460th/1416
- 96.75%
2289th/2366
76.36%
872nd/1142
Silent Generation
(1928-1945)
24.84%
384th/1546
- 95.07%
2237th/2353
49.39%
764th/1547
Baby Boomers
(1946-1964)
26.58%
592nd/2227
50.29%
1222nd/2430
42.45%
1211th/2853
25.55%
709th/2775
Generation X (Gen X)
(1965-1980)
13.96%
410th/2937
17.46%
608th/3483
13.50%
475th/3518
8.38%
339th/4044
Millennials (Gen Y)
(1981-1996)
7.71%
284th/3685
8.36%
374th/4475
5.95%
309th/5194
4.72%
298th/6317
Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers)
(1997-2012)
4.21%
193rd/4582
4.09%
211th/5164
2.83%
207th/7313
2.85%
213th/7463
Generation Alpha
(2013-2024)
9.09%
362nd/3984
7.80%
350th/4487
5.75%
392nd/6822
4.70%
295th/6276

Regional Popularity of "Donovan" by Generation for Female Names

TOP(%) MidWest Northeast South West
G.I. Generation
(1901-1927)
- - - -
Silent Generation
(1928-1945)
- - - -
Baby Boomers
(1946-1964)
- - - -
Generation X (Gen X)
(1965-1980)
- - - -
Millennials (Gen Y)
(1981-1996)
- - - -
Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers)
(1997-2012)
- - - -
Generation Alpha
(2013-2024)
- - - -

State-by-State Popularity of "Donovan"

This map shows the relative popularity of "Donovan" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.

Comprehensive Regional & Generational Popularity Trends of "Donovan" in the United States

The name Donovan is most popular in Nevada, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) generation in the MidWest region. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is declining in usage, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Donovan has been falling for male in MidWest, falling for male in Northeast, falling for male in South, falling for male in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for male in West. Across generations, 'Donovan' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 882nd out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 693rd out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 778th out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 444th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 319th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 209th out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 347th out of 23106 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 12316th out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 11096th out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 13503rd out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 21584th out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Donovan' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.

Infographic: Donovan name meaning, origin, and popularity trends in the United States (US baby name analysis chart)
[600x500px image] Etymology and historical popularity of Donovan,