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Donovan

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Donovan

Donovan is an Irish baby boy’s name that means “dark.” Like many Irish classics, Donovan is an Anglicized name. In this case, Donovan derives from Donndubán. Donovan has been a classic name since at least 1900, but in a rare twist, it has steadily increased in popularity since the beginning of the 20th century and only peaked in 2003.

Meaning and Origin of the name Donovan:

Donovan is a boy's name of Irish origin meaning “dark.”

Donovan is a baby boy’s name of Irish origin that means “dark.” Donovan is the Anglicized form of the name Donndubán. It is also derived from the Irish surname Ó Donndubháin, which is made up of donn (meaning “brown”) and dubhan (meaning “black”).

Symbolism of the name Donovan:

Donovan means “dark” and most likely referred to a person who had dark hair or eyes. In a country that has high concentrations of red-haired and blonde people with light-colored eyes, someone of a darker coloration was noteworthy.

Nicknames for the name Donovan:

Donovan is a formal sounding name with a variety of nicknames that sound fun and informal. Below is a list of nicknames to choose from when deciding on a nickname for your baby boy. Some of the nicknames are common and some are unique.

Style of the name Donovan:

Traditional

Gender of the name Donovan:

Donovan is a boy's name.

Pronunciation of the name Donovan:

DAHN-ə-vən

Number of syllables in the name Donovan:

Three

Emotion evoked from the name Donovan:

Donovan evokes feelings of practicality and intelligence.

Alternative spellings for the name Donovan:

  • Danavan
  • Donavan
  • Donovahn
  • Donoven
  • Donevahn

Popularity of the name Donovan:

According to the Social Security Administration, Donovan is a popular baby boy’s name. Donovan has been in the top 1000 baby names since 1900. It peaked in 2003 at #176.

Great middle names for the name Donovan and their meanings:

  • Oscar (God spear, deer-lover, champion warrior)
  • Jasper (bringer of treasure)
  • Silas (wood, forest)
  • Asher (fortunate, blessed, happy one)
  • Milo (soldier, merciful)
  • Emmett (universal)
  • Wyatt (brave in war)
  • Luke (man from Lucania)

Famous people with the name Donovan:

  • Donovan Philips Leitch (Scottish singer-songwriter)
  • Donovan Warren (American football player)
  • Donovan Bailey (Canadian Olympic sprinter)
  • Donovan Patton (American actor)
  • Donovan Jamal McNabb (American NFL football player)
  • Donovan (literature, “The Puzzle Ring” by Kate Forsyth)
  • Donovan (television, “American Horror Story”)
  • Donovan (television, “Berserk”)
  • Mike Donovan (literature, writings by Isaac Asimov)
  • Matt Donovan (television, “The Vampire Diaries”)
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