Spelling Variants
Donavan vs Donovan: Which Spelling?
Donavan and Donovan are anglicized forms of the Irish surname Ó Donabháin.
Global Rank #2,426
Donavan
Origin: Irish
The name 'Donavan' is an anglicized form of the Irish surname Ó Donndubháin, meaning "descendant of Donndubhán," which combines the Gaelic elements *donn* ("brown" or "dark") and *dubh* ("black") to…
Global Rank #398
Donovan
Origin: English
Donovan derives from the Irish name Ó Donabháin, meaning "descendant of Donabhan," where "donn" means brown in Old Irish, likely referring to brown hair or complexion.
Which is more popular? Based on real registry rankings, Donovan currently ranks higher globally. Popularity can vary a lot by country — check each name's own page for a full regional breakdown.