Donovan is a masculine given name of Irish origin. It is derived from the Irish surname Ó Domhnaich, which is composed of the elements "domhnach," meaning "of the church," and the diminutive suffix "-án." Therefore, Donovan means "descendant of Domhnach" or "son of the church."
The name Donovan has a rich history dating back to medieval Ireland. It was first recorded as a surname in the early 12th century, with records showing that it was brought to Scotland by Norsemen who settled in the Hebrides and on the west coast of Ireland.
Over time, Donovan became widely used as a given name in both Ireland and Scotland. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, it began to gain popularity in other English-speaking countries, including England, Canada, and the United States.
Today, Donovan is considered a classic yet somewhat rare name for boys. It has been consistently ranked among the top 1,000 names for boys in the United States since the 1980s but remains relatively uncommon compared to more popular names like John or Michael.
Some notable individuals with the name Donovan include Canadian singer-songwriter Donovan Woods and American football coach Bob Donovan. However, it is important to note that this information does not pertain to any specific characteristics associated with people named Donovan.
In summary, Donovan is an Irish surname-turned-given-name that means "descendant of Domhnach" or "son of the church." With its rich history dating back centuries and roots in medieval Ireland, Donovan has become a classic yet relatively uncommon name for boys in English-speaking countries around the world.
The name Donovon has seen a varied trend in popularity over the years in the United States. Between 1969 and 2020, there were a total of 660 babies born with this name.
The highest peak in popularity occurred in 1999 when 34 babies were named Donovon. This was followed by another peak in 2001 with 29 births. However, the number of births decreased significantly after that year, reaching as low as 5 births in both 2014 and 2017.
The most recent data from 2020 shows a slight increase with 8 babies being named Donovon. This indicates that while the name may not be as popular as it once was, it is still being chosen for newborns today.