Donovan is a distinctive choice, ranked #1595 in 2024. Your child is likely to be the only Donovan in their class.
💎
UK Rank 2024
#1595
US Rank #504
About the Name Donovan
Donovan is climbing rapidly up the charts, having climbed 128 places in just five years. Its best recorded rank was #654 in 1996 — and current momentum suggests it could challenge that mark again. The name has been a consistent presence in UK records since 1996.
Donovan is distinctive enough that your child will likely be the only one in both their class and their school — standing out on every register.
In the US it ranks even higher at #504, where it enjoys a particularly strong following.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about the name Donovan
Unlikely. With around 16 UK babies named Donovan per year, your child will almost certainly be the only Donovan in his class, and possibly the only one in the whole school.
Donovan is currently rising in popularity in the UK, up 128 places over the last five years to #1595 in 2024. If this trend continues, it will become more common in classrooms over the next decade.
Donovan is more popular in the US (#504) than in the UK (#1595). Names with strong rankings in both countries tend to have broad cross-cultural appeal, working well for international families or those with ties to both nations.
Notable people named Donovan include: Landon Donovan — Landon Timothy Donovan is an American former professional soccer player and coach who was most recently the interim head coach of San Diego Wave FC of the...; Donovan Mitchell — Donovan Vernell Mitchell Jr.; Brendan Donovan — Brendan Michael Donovan is an American professional baseball utility player for the Seattle Mariners of Major League Baseball (MLB)..
Donovan ranks #504 in the US top 1,000 (2024). It's recognised in America but considerably more popular in the UK.
16
UK babies named Donovan (2024)
< 1
Expected classmates with this name (class of 28)
~0.0
In a school of 600
↑ 128 places
Rank change (last 5 years)
🏫 Who else is in the room?
In a typical UK class of 28, highlighted children share the name Donovan
Likely around 1 other Donovan in the class
UK Popularity (1996–2024)
Rank and birth count · ONS official data
US Popularity (2020–2024)
Rank · SSA official data
✨ Similar names to Donovan
Names with a similar style — each with their own classroom story
Landon Timothy Donovan is an American former professional soccer player and coach who was most recently the interim head coach of San Diego Wave FC of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). Widely regarded as one of the greatest American players of all time, Donovan was the all-time top assist provider in international football (58) until 2023 and is tied with Clint Dempsey for the most international goals scored by a male U.S.
Brendan Michael Donovan is an American professional baseball utility player for the Seattle Mariners of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the St.
Donovan "Razor" Ruddock is a Jamaican-born Canadian former professional boxer who competed from 1982 to 2001 and in 2015. He is known for his two fights against Mike Tyson in 1991, a fight against Lennox Lewis in 1992, and a fight with Tommy Morrison in 1995.