Donagh
Say it: DUN-a
BoyIrishMeans usually explained as "brown battle"6 letters2 syllables
#146
in Ireland (2025)
#143 with spellings combined
37
babies in 2025
#125
best rank (2017)
1,030
babies since 1964
Up 58
10-year rank change
Donagh through the years
Compare with another name →Show the numbers
| Year | Babies (boys) | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 37 | #143 |
| 2024 | 25 | #193 |
| 2023 | 30 | #170 |
| 2022 | 41 | #147 |
| 2021 | 42 | #142 |
| 2020 | 38 | #152 |
| 2019 | 38 | #152 |
| 2018 | 39 | #152 |
| 2017 | 50 | #125 |
| 2016 | 35 | #168 |
| 2015 | 28 | #201 |
| 2014 | 26 | #220 |
| 2013 | 24 | #229 |
| 2012 | 38 | #176 |
| 2011 | 27 | #210 |
| 2010 | 24 | #229 |
| 2009 | 24 | #227 |
| 2008 | 22 | #231 |
| 2007 | 21 | #220 |
| 2006 | 16 | #232 |
| 2005 | 15 | #224 |
| 2004 | 17 | #192 |
| 2003 | 13 | #214 |
| 2002 | 9 | #249 |
| 2001 | 5 | #317 |
| 2000 | 7 | #250 |
| 1999 | 10 | #203 |
| 1998 | 7 | #229 |
| 1997 | 8 | #251 |
| 1996 | 6 | #276 |
| 1995 | 6 | #261 |
| 1994 | 9 | #208 |
| 1993 | 10 | #205 |
| 1992 | 13 | #188 |
| 1990 | 8 | #216 |
| 1989 | 5 | #253 |
| 1988 | 6 | #235 |
| 1987 | 6 | #235 |
| 1986 | 8 | #217 |
| 1985 | 7 | #218 |
| 1984 | 3 | #318 |
| 1983 | 4 | #282 |
| 1982 | 14 | #176 |
| 1981 | 8 | #228 |
| 1980 | 10 | #213 |
| 1979 | 10 | #211 |
| 1978 | 7 | #231 |
| 1977 | 8 | #227 |
| 1976 | 12 | #198 |
| 1975 | 6 | #251 |
| 1974 | 15 | #182 |
| 1973 | 17 | #169 |
| 1972 | 17 | #158 |
| 1971 | 15 | #168 |
| 1970 | 12 | #178 |
| 1969 | 13 | #163 |
| 1968 | 21 | #126 |
| 1967 | 7 | #196 |
| 1966 | 11 | #154 |
| 1965 | 11 | #157 |
| 1964 | 9 | #164 |
Source: CSO, Irish Babies' Names (VSA50, VSA60), CC BY 4.0.
★ What does Donagh mean?
Usually explained as "brown battle"
English form of Irish Donncha (older Donnchadh), from Old Irish donn (brown) and cath (battle).
Say it right
DUNa
Some say DON-a. The Irish form, Donncha, has a soft "ch" in the middle, as in loch.
The story of Donagh
Donagh is one of the English spellings of the Irish Donncha, written Donnchadh in the older spelling. It goes back to the Old Irish Donnchad. The first part is donn, brown. The second is usually taken as cath, battle, though some explain it as a word for a chief. Donough and Donnacha come from the same name, and in Scotland it became Duncan.
It was a royal name in medieval Ireland. Donnchad mac Briain, a son of Brian Boru, claimed the high kingship in the 1020s.
Donagh has been given in Ireland throughout the CSO records, but it has done better in recent years than ever before. It peaked in 2017 with 50 boys, reaching number 125. In 2025, 37 boys were given it. The CSO counts Donncha, Donnacha and other spellings separately, so the name as a whole is more common than any single spelling shows.
Say it differently where you're from, or spotted something wrong? Tell us.
Sources
- Wiktionary: Donncha (Irish proper noun)
- Wikipedia: Donnchadh
- CSO VSA50, Boys Names in Ireland with 3 or More Occurrences
At a glance
Similar names
Sibling ideas
Spellings counted here
| Spelling | 2025 | All years |
|---|---|---|
| Donagh | 37 | 1,030 |