Meaning & origin
A reliable meaning for Donnovan isn’t established in our sources yet. Rather than guess, we show what is recorded: how the name is used, how often, and the names it’s connected to.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1970. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Donnovan through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 553
- 553 boys · 0 girls
- Most popular year
- 2007
- 37 babies
- 2025
- 7
- #9,961 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −82%
- Cooling
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 7 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 9,961 among boys’ names. The recent annual counts are too incomplete to establish a ten-year comparison. Its largest published annual count for boys was 37 in 2007. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 577 as a first name in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Donnovan’s family of names
Donnovan may belong to the same name family as DONNOVANN. This is a tentative spelling connection.
The ring: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 2
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Similar names
If you love Donnovan, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Daimian
>99% boys
Davyion
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Cowan
“from the hollow near the hill; one of twins”
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Deaven
76% boys · 24% girls
Dangkhoa
>99% boys
Dareian
>99% boys
Damen
“one who tames or subdues others”
>99% boys
Navin
“a pleasant, lovely woman” · “one who is strong-willed”
>99% boys