Given name & surname

Govan

Govan is a surname.

Meaning & origin

Where it comes from

Govan is a variant of Govannon. An origin associated with Govannon is Irish.

Explained through its name family

The story

Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1916. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin. Govan is a variant of Govannon. The history of Govannon gives this family its wider story. In mythological stories, Govannon is associated with the god of the forge.

Combines direct and name-family evidence

Govan through the years

Babies since 1880
27
27 boys · 0 girls
Most popular year
1919
6 babies
2025
0
Outside the ranked list
2021–25 vs 2016–20
—
Too few births to compare
02468192019401960198020002025Highest share 19190.0
Govan in U.S. Social Security birth records, 1916–2025, per million boys born. Years with fewer than five births for a sex are not published and appear as zero. Use the arrow keys to step through years.

By the numbers

The most recent published U.S. birth count for boys is 5 in 1932. Later missing counts do not mean the name went unused. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 3,040 as a surname in 2020.

From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.

Govan’s family of names

Govan has a related form in Govannon.

Walk Govan’s family in the name graph

GovanGovannon

The ring: nicknames and forms.

Hover or tab through the constellation to see how each name is related. Bigger dots are names more people in the U.S. share.

Nicknames & forms 1

Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.

Similar names

If you love Govan, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.

Old Norse · Mythological

Thorvald

“follower of Thor”

0Not recently recorded

>99% boys

Greek · Mythological

Scipio

“a legendary general” · “a great leader”

0Not recently recorded

>99% boys

Mythological

Govannyn

No U.S. birth series

—

Javanese · Mythological

Dian

Dian is a feminine given name from Javanese. It is used in Indonesian.

17Very rareRising

>99% boys

Mythological

Aodan

“fire”

No U.S. birth series

>99% boys

Mythological

Deane

“from the valley; a church official”

12Very rare

>99% boys

Mythological

Xanan

“ancient goddess” · “from an ancient family”

No U.S. birth series

—

Mythological

Gulveig

No U.S. birth series

—

Sibling ideas

Names that share Govan’s feel without repeating its first letter or rhyming with it.

A brother for Govan

A sister for Govan