The story behind Donovan
From Irish Ó Donndubháin (“descendant of (a person named) brown & black”), from donn (“brown”) and dubh (“black”).
Pronunciation
English; dialect unspecified: /ˈdɒnəvɪn/
Regional pronunciation variants
- English; dialect unspecified: /ˈdʌnəvɪn/
Popularity
Donovan ranked #496 in US for 2025.
Source: SSA national baby names
Names Similar to Donovan
Callahan
From Irish Ó Ceallacháin, from Ceallachán, diminutive of the given name Ceallach. Doublet of Kelly and Kellogg.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends N
- same syllable count
- similar length
Kerrigan
Reduced Anglicized form of Irish Ó Ciaragáin (“grandson/descendant of Ciaragán”), a byname from a double diminutive of ciar (“black”).
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends N
- same syllable count
- similar length
Deraman
Contraction of Abdul Rahman, which is from Arabic عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَن (ʕabdu r-raḥman).
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends N
- same syllable count
- similar length
Dipanjan
Transliteration of Bengali দীপাঞ্জন (dipanjôn).
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends N
- same syllable count
- similar length
Abhijñān
Learned borrowing from Sanskrit अभिज्ञान (abhijñāna, “recognition”). By surface analysis, अभि- (abhi-) + ज्ञान (jñān).
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends N
- same syllable count
- similar length
Adhamhnán
From Old Irish Adomnán (“little Adam”).
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends N
- same syllable count
- similar length
Middle Names for Donovan
Aidan
Name of an Irish saint, Anglicized from Irish Aodhán and Scottish Gaelic Aodhan, diminutives of Aodh (literally "fire", the name of a Celtic sun god).
- Gender
- mixed
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends N
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Aiden
A male given name from Irish, variant of Aidan.
- Gender
- mixed
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends N
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Aileen
A female given name from Irish, variant of Eileen.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends N
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Sibling Names for Donovan
Aidano
From English Aidan, from Irish Aodhán.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends O
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length
Aoife
Borrowed from Irish Aoife. The name is unrelated to the Biblical name Eva, which was rendered as Éabha in Irish. However, due to the lack of a more precise alternative familiar…
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 1 syllable
- Ending
- ends E
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length
Barry
Anglicized form of Irish Bairre, short form of Fionnbharr, from fionn (“white”) + barr (“head”).
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends Y
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length