Donavan

Donavan: name meaning, origin & popularity

Meaning: “dark descendant”
Origin: Irish
Say it: DON-uh-vun · 3 syllables
Used for: Boys

Variant of Donovan, from the Irish surname Ó Donndubháin. The byname combines elements meaning 'brown, dark' and 'little/diminutive', though exact interpretation varies in detail.

Irish names Classic names Surname-style names

How popular is Donavan?

202411.1 per million US babies

Drag the line or the slider to read any year. Values are per million US births recorded by Social Security. Records before about 1937 undercount births, so early peaks can look taller than they were.

Compare with another name

Babies named Donavan in 202437

2024 rank#3,226 boys

Peak year2002

Total US babies since 18808,248

Donavan is fading: recent use is about 42% of its level ten years before.

Names like Donavan

Variants, related forms and names with the same roots.

Liamresolute protector · Irish
Aidenlittle fire · Irish
Nolandescendant of Nuallán · Irish
Ryanlittle king · Irish
Declanuncertain, possibly full of goodness · Irish
Connorlover of hounds · Irish
Kevinhandsome, gentle, kind · Irish
Braydendescendant of Bradán · Irish

Donavan questions

What does the name Donavan mean?

Donavan means "dark descendant". It comes from Irish. Variant of Donovan, from the Irish surname Ó Donndubháin. The byname combines elements meaning 'brown, dark' and 'little/diminutive', though exact interpretation varies in detail.

Is Donavan a boy or girl name?

Donavan is mainly a boy's name in US records (100% of uses since 1880).

How popular is Donavan?

37 US babies were named Donavan in 2024. Its peak year was 2002.

How do you pronounce Donavan?

Donavan is usually pronounced DON-uh-vun.

Birth counts: US Social Security Administration national data, 1880–2024 (names given to 5+ babies of a sex in a year). How we write meanings.