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The short answer
Donovan is a masculine name used in English. Behind the Name describes it this way: "From an Irish surname, an Anglicized form of Ó Donndubháin, itself derived from the given name Donndubán. This name is borne by the Scottish folk musician Donovan Leitch (1946-), known simply as Donovan." It ranked #496 for boys in the United States in 2025.
Meaning and etymology
According to Behind the Name, from an Irish surname, an Anglicized form of Ó Donndubháin, itself derived from the given name Donndubán. This name is borne by the Scottish folk musician Donovan Leitch (1946-), known simply as Donovan. The entry lists its usage as English.
Editorial confidence: likely
Popularity
Donovan ranked #496 for boys in the United States in 2025. The figure comes from the Social Security Administration's national file for that year.
| Region | Year | Rank | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 2025 | #496 | ssa-2025 |
If you like this name
Names that Behind the Name files under the same origin (English) and that sit near Donovan in the 2025 American rankings.
Similar by origin
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Donovan mean?
Behind the Name does not give Donovan a one-word meaning. It describes the name as follows: from an Irish surname, an Anglicized form of Ó Donndubháin, itself.
Is Donovan a popular name?
Donovan ranked #496 for boys in the United States in 2025. (Social Security Administration data).
Is Donovan a boy's or a girl's name?
In the 2025 SSA data Donovan appears in the boys' list; Behind the Name labels it masculine.
Sources
- Behind the Name: Meaning, origin and history of the name Donovan — supports meaning, usage, pronunciation, variants.
- U.S. Social Security Administration: Popular Baby Names — national data, year of birth 2025 — supports popularity.
