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Donavan

♂ Boy

Pronounced DON-ə-vən /ˈdɑn.ə.vən/High

Meaning: Variant of Donovan, from Irish Ó Donndubháin, 'descendant of Donndubhán' — a name combining donn, 'brown', and dubh, 'dark, black'High

In 30 seconds: Donovan with an a-for-o swap: the Irish 'descendant of the dark chieftain' in its second-most-common American dress. Mellow Yellow not included.

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Origin HighIrish

MeaningVariant of Donovan, from Irish Ó Donndubháin, 'descendant of Donndubhán' — a name combining donn, 'brown', and dubh, 'dark, black'

U.S. rank (2025)#2426 ↗ Rising

2025 U.S. births56 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)

Peak year2002

Total births (all-time)≈ 8,299

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Donavan respells Donovan, the anglicized Irish Ó Donndubháin — 'descendant of Donndubhán', a chieftain's name stacking donn, 'brown', on dubh, 'dark'. The Scottish-born folk singer Donovan lifted it to first-name fame in the 1960s, and American spellings promptly multiplied.

The -avan form has trailed the original steadily in U.S. records since the 1970s. NFL quarterback Donovan McNabb and a parade of athletes keep the sound in play; Donavan remains the rarer signature.

Did you know? The 1960s singer Donovan — born Donovan Leitch — made the surname-turned-first-name famous enough that parents forgot it had ever been anything but a first name.

Overall data confidence 88%

Behind the Name — Donovan — surname etymology

Variations

DonovanDonavonDonevan

Nicknames

DonDonnieVan

Famous Bearers

★Donavan Brazier (1997-)
American middle-distance runner and 800m national record holder
★Donavan Frankenreiter (1972-)
American singer-songwriter and former professional surfer

If you like Donavan…

Donovan— the standard spelling of the same chieftain's name

Sullivan— a fellow three-syllable Irish surname favorite

Declan— another Irish import gone mainstream American

Kieran— shares the 'dark' Irish root meaning

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Donavan mean?

Donavan is a variant of Donovan, from Irish Ó Donndubháin, combining words for 'brown' and 'dark' — a chieftain's lineage name.

How do you pronounce Donavan?

It's said DON-ə-vən /ˈdɑn.ə.vən/ — three syllables, stress on the first.

Is Donavan a boy or girl name?

Donavan is a boy's name.

How popular is Donavan?

Donavan is an uncommon spelling in the U.S.; Donovan is the familiar form.