Donnovan

Meaning & origin

Donnovan is a variant spelling of the Irish name Donovan, which has been used as a given name since the mid-20th century. The name first appeared in U.S. records in 1970, and its popularity peaked in 2007. As of 2025, it ranks 9,714th, given to roughly 1 in every 244,011 newborns, indicating a stable but low level of use. The variant spelling with a double 'n' distinguishes it from the more common Donovan, which itself has remained a familiar choice in Irish-American families. Top states for this name have not been recorded, suggesting it is not regionally concentrated.

Donnovan is a variant spelling of Donovan, which is the anglicized form of the Irish surname Ó Donndubháin, meaning 'descendant of Donndubhán.' The personal name Donndubhán combines 'donn' (brown, dark) with 'dubh' (black) and a diminutive suffix, hence 'little dark-haired one.' The surname has been used as a given name since the mid-20th century, particularly in the United States. This variant spelling, with a double 'n', emerged later and remains less common.