Donovan as a baby name

[ThatPeachSquid]

I’m having a baby boy in October and wondering what people think of the name
Donovan? My dad’s side is originally Irish so
it links nicely to that. Thought Donnie and Don would be nice nicknames. We were looking for a nice solid name that’s unique but not too try hard

Yes!! I was trying to figure out where I got the bully/gobsh*te vibe from and it was that.

OP if you like something Irish there are so many lovely names but Donovan is a bit tacky I think although the nicknames are cute

I’m Irish so it’s a no from me.
It’s a surname, Donovan or O’Donovan.

It’s also pronounced DUN-eh-van in the part of the country I’m in, though it might be DON in the north all right. I’m not sure.
This is someone from Galway saying it
https://forvo.com/word/o%27donovan_rossa/
So the nickname could end up as dunny (Australian for toilet!) here 🤔
Not so good.

Really love it

Love it!

un the current political climate, Don/Donnie is a hard no from me!!

Love it! The first Donovan I thought of is https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donavon_Frankenreiter

I think it's a great name, a lovely breath of fresh air.

The Trump thing feels irrelevant - he's always Donald, isn't he.

Van is also a cool shortening.

I know a baby Donovan . First time I’ve ever heard it as a given name. Irish parents.

Irish parents living in Ireland?

Three babies were named Donovan in Ireland in 2024. Fewer than 3 in each of at least the 5 years prior to that.

Source: https://visual.cso.ie/?body=entity/babynames

Love it.

Irish parents living in Ireland . Must be one of the very few!

Aah Jason. My first love.

I like it.

It's a surname so I'm generally not keen on surnames being used as first names but that's a personal preference. You do what suits you and your family, if you like it then go ahead.

Jason

If you like surnames as given names what about McGillycuddy or O’Looney?

Must be.

The person you're probably thinking of doesn't go by Don. It's the long version of his name that is discredited and Donovan is a good way of getting around that.

Thanks. I was thinking people always just call Trump “Trump” or Donald as you say

Yes, exactly. In most of the country it’s ‘DUN-uh-van’, not ‘DON-o-Van’, so Don or Donnie won’t work as short forms.

And unless you’d name your child Jones, Potter, Smith, Singh, or any common UK surnames, I wouldn’t use Donovan.