Donovan
Boy name · 13 babies recorded · 1974–2025
Donovan: 13 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to boys, peaking at 4 births in 2013.
Of Irish and Scottish Gaelic origin, Donovan comes from the surname Ó Donndubháin, meaning "descendant of Donndubhán" – a personal name combining *donn* (brown, dark) and *dubh* (black). The most famous bearer is the American singer-songwriter Donovan Leitch, known simply as Donovan, whose 1960s folk hits like "Sunshine Superman" and "Mellow Yellow" made him a counterculture icon. The name also belongs to Donovan Bailey, the Canadian sprinter who won Olympic gold in the 100 metres in 1996. While no major places are named directly after a Donovan, the root *donn* appears in the Scottish place name Dundonald, meaning "fort of Donald." A notable variant is the Irish spelling Donavan, though Donovan remains the standard form in both Scotland and Ireland.
Boy 4 of 52 years
- Peak year
- 20134 babies
- Latest (2020)
- #7113 babies
- Total births
- 13since 2011
- 5-year trend
- ≈ stablevs prior 5y