Irish boy name
Donnán Name Meaning, Origin & Pronunciation
Donnán means little brown-haired one. From donn, 'brown', plus the diminutive -án
Donnán is made from donn, meaning brown, with a small ending, and is traditionally explained as little brown-haired one. Saint Donnán of Eigg was a monk who, according to tradition, travelled to the Hebrides and was martyred in 617. He is honoured in Scotland and Ireland, and the name has been used in both countries. It is a quiet, strong name and is unusual in modern times. The pronunciation is straightforward, with the first syllable close to dun. Donnán suits those seeking a connection to both Irish and Scottish Gaelic heritage and an unmistakably saintly pedigree.
Variants of Donnán
DonanDonnan
Donnán popularity: Ireland vs the US
In 1975 Donnán ranked #321 in Ireland (3 babies). It is too rare to appear in US rankings.
Ireland (boys)
Rank among babies of the same sex, 1 = most popular (log scale). Ranks below #10,000 sit on the bottom edge. Gaps mean fewer than 3 Irish or 5 US babies that year.
Data: US Social Security Administration (public domain) and Central Statistics Office, Ireland (CC BY 4.0). Irish accented spellings (such as Síle) are only recorded from 2018, so earlier years combine spellings.
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Donnán mean?
Donnán means "little brown-haired one". From donn, 'brown', plus the diminutive -án.
How do you pronounce Donnán?
Donnán is pronounced DUN-awn.
What is the origin of Donnán?
Donnán is of Irish origin. From donn, 'brown', plus the diminutive -án.