Boy
Donovan
dark warrior
About Donovan
A name that carries strength and sophistication in equal measure. Donovan possesses a timeless quality that works beautifully from childhood through adulthood, never feeling dated or overly trendy. The three-syllable structure provides a natural rhythm that's both substantial and approachable. It's distinguished enough for professional settings while maintaining warmth for personal relationships. Parents who choose this name often appreciate its literary and musical associations, as well as its ability to stand confidently on its own without requiring a nickname, though "Don" or "Van" offer casual alternatives. The name suggests someone who is thoughtful, capable, and possesses quiet confidence rather than brash showmanship.
Popularity of the Name Donovan
Rank among the 1,000 most popular baby names, by year.
| United States | United Kingdom | Ireland | Canada | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1900 | #981 | |||
| 1901 | #877 | |||
| 1902 | #951 | |||
| 1903 | #807 | |||
| 1904 | #824 | |||
| 1905 | #712 | |||
| 1906 | #868 | |||
| 1907 | #940 | |||
| 1911 | #997 | |||
| 1912 | #884 | |||
| 1913 | #936 | |||
| 1914 | #937 | |||
| 1915 | #928 | |||
| 1916 | #898 | |||
| 1918 | #988 | |||
| 1919 | #910 | |||
| 1920 | #879 | |||
| 1921 | #828 | |||
| 1922 | #980 | |||
| 1923 | #758 | |||
| 1924 | #851 | |||
| 1925 | #760 | |||
| 1926 | #814 | |||
| 1927 | #742 | |||
| 1928 | #649 | |||
| 1929 | #666 | |||
| 1930 | #637 | |||
| 1931 | #591 | |||
| 1932 | #575 | |||
| 1933 | #651 | |||
| 1934 | #567 | |||
| 1935 | #759 | |||
| 1936 | #662 | |||
| 1937 | #765 | |||
| 1938 | #624 | |||
| 1939 | #667 | |||
| 1940 | #660 | |||
| 1941 | #771 | |||
| 1942 | #798 | |||
| 1943 | #764 | |||
| 1944 | #790 | |||
| 1945 | #822 | |||
| 1946 | #717 | |||
| 1947 | #779 | |||
| 1948 | #767 | |||
| 1949 | #816 | |||
| 1950 | #720 | |||
| 1951 | #752 | |||
| 1952 | #823 | |||
| 1953 | #801 | |||
| 1954 | #828 | |||
| 1955 | #707 | |||
| 1956 | #792 | |||
| 1957 | #703 | |||
| 1958 | #877 | |||
| 1959 | #823 | |||
| 1960 | #877 | |||
| 1961 | #699 | |||
| 1962 | #753 | |||
| 1963 | #760 | |||
| 1964 | #710 | |||
| 1965 | #649 | |||
| 1966 | #573 | |||
| 1967 | #500 | |||
| 1968 | #455 | |||
| 1969 | #361 | |||
| 1970 | #365 | |||
| 1971 | #366 | |||
| 1972 | #392 | |||
| 1973 | #400 | |||
| 1974 | #405 | |||
| 1975 | #425 | |||
| 1976 | #414 | |||
| 1977 | #442 | |||
| 1978 | #476 | |||
| 1979 | #459 | |||
| 1980 | #449 | |||
| 1981 | #494 | |||
| 1982 | #507 | |||
| 1983 | #504 | |||
| 1984 | #463 | |||
| 1985 | #391 | |||
| 1986 | #373 | |||
| 1987 | #326 | |||
| 1988 | #321 | |||
| 1989 | #311 | |||
| 1990 | #300 | |||
| 1991 | #256 | #320 | ||
| 1992 | #243 | #304 | ||
| 1993 | #249 | #334 | ||
| 1994 | #261 | #321 | ||
| 1995 | #261 | #343 | ||
| 1996 | #246 | #192 | ||
| 1997 | #213 | #777 | #194 | |
| 1998 | #210 | #810 | #200 | |
| 1999 | #210 | #772 | #227 | |
| 2000 | #206 | #880 | #265 | |
| 2001 | #211 | #724 | #238 | |
| 2002 | #190 | #784 | #259 | |
| 2003 | #176 | #921 | #283 | |
| 2004 | #187 | #805 | #288 | |
| 2005 | #185 | #304 | ||
| 2006 | #198 | #286 | ||
| 2007 | #197 | #326 | ||
| 2008 | #214 | #879 | #298 | |
| 2009 | #215 | #322 | ||
| 2010 | #217 | #940 | #364 | |
| 2011 | #254 | #342 | ||
| 2012 | #276 | #771 | #378 | |
| 2013 | #281 | #393 | ||
| 2014 | #284 | #563 | #395 | |
| 2015 | #282 | #433 | ||
| 2016 | #306 | #391 | ||
| 2017 | #323 | #370 | ||
| 2018 | #325 | #533 | ||
| 2019 | #352 | #526 | ||
| 2020 | #374 | #476 | ||
| 2021 | #425 | #490 | ||
| 2022 | #448 | #676 | ||
| 2023 | #468 | #505 | ||
| 2024 | #506 | #809 | #569 | |
| 2025 | #496 | #689 |
Top names by country: United States · United Kingdom · Ireland · Canada
Variations of Name Donovan
Names Similar to Donovan
Nicknames for Donovan
- Don
- Donny
- Van
- Nova
Famous People Named Donovan
| Donovan Leitch | Scottish singer-songwriter |
| Donovan McNabb | former American football quarterback |
| Donovan Mitchell | American professional basketball player |
| Donovan Woods | Canadian singer-songwriter |
| Donovan Frankenreiter | American musician |
| Donovan Solano | Venezuelan professional baseball player |
| Donovan Patton | American voice actor |
| Donovan Ricketts | Jamaican former professional soccer player |
| Donovan Morgan | American professional wrestler |
| Donovan Dijak | American professional wrestler |
| Donovan Smith | American professional football player |
| Donovan Peoples-Jones | American professional football player |
| Donovan Wijegoonawardena | Sri Lankan cricketer |
| Donovan Mekonnen | Ethiopian-born musician |
| Donovan Wilson | Scottish professional footballer |
| Donovan Bailey | American film and television director |
| Donovan Charles | British actor |
| Donovan J. Leitch Jr. | Scottish-American actor and singer |
| Donovan Carter | American actor |
Characters Named Donovan
| Donovan Blackwood | character from the "Harry Potter" series |
| Donovan Van Ray | character from the TV show "Nash Bridges" |
| Donovan Dunphy | character from the TV show "CSI - Miami" |
| Donovan Rayne | character from the video game "Alpha Protocol" |
| Donovan Hock | character from the video game "Mass Effect 2" |
| Donovan Grimborne | character from the book series "Septimus Heap" |
| Donovan Caine | character from the book series "The Hollows" |
| Donovan Frost | character from the TV show "Angel" |
| Donovan Stringer | character from the movie "Southpaw" |
| Donovan Wylie | character from the book "The Fault in Our Stars" |
| Donovan Baynes | character from the TV show "Daredevil" |
| Donovan Germain | character from the TV show "Ozark" |
| Donovan Sulecki | character from the book series "Vampire Academy" |
| Donovan Wesninski | character from the book series "All for the Game" |
| Donovan Chase | character from the TV show "The Glades" |
| Donovan Stark | character from the TV show "Grimm" |
| Donovan Chalmers | character from the movie "No Time to Die" |