Donovan is a surname and given name of Irish origin. The O'Donovan family takes its name from Donnubán mac Cathail.

• Charles Donovan (1863–1951), Irish-born Anglo-Indian naturalist
• Claire Donovan (1948–2019), British historian
• Edward Donovan (1768–1837), Anglo-Irish zoologist
• Herman Lee Donovan (1887–1964), President of the University of Kentucky
• James Donovan (forensic scientist) (1944/1945–2025), Irish forensic scientist
• John J. Donovan (born 1943), American professor of management science and entrepreneur
• Josephine Donovan (born 1941), American scholar
• Mary Josephine Donovan O'Sullivan (1887–1966), scholar

• Casey Donovan (actor), (1943–1987), American gay porn star, born John Calvin Culver
• Casey Donovan (singer), (born 1988), Australian singer
• Chris Donovan (director), American television director and producer
• Daisy Donovan (born 1973), English television presenter, actress, and writer
• Dan Donovan (guitarist) (born 1960), British singer/songwriter
• Dan Donovan (keyboardist) (born 1962), British rock musician
• Elisa Donovan (born 1971), American actress, writer, and producer
• Gerard Donovan (born 1959), Irish novelist and poet
• Jacquelyn Piro Donovan, American musical theater actress and singer
• Jason Donovan (born 1968), Australian pop rock singer and actor
• Lisa Donovan (born 1980), American internet actress
• Mark Donovan (actor) (born 1958), Welsh actor
• Martin Donovan (born 1957), American actor
• Michael Donovan (born 1953), Canadian voice actor and voice director
• Natasha Donovan, Métis Canadian illustrator
• Paul Donovan (writer) (born 1954), creator of LEXX
• Tara Donovan (born 1969), American artist
• Tate Donovan (born 1963), American actor
• Terence Donovan (actor) (born 1942), Australian actor
• Terence Donovan (photographer) (1936–1996), British photographer

• Bob Donovan (born 1956), Wisconsin politician
• Christopher G. Donovan (born 1953), Connecticut politician
• Dan Donovan (politician), American politician
• Daniel M. Donovan Jr. (born 1956), United States Representative from New York City
• Francis Patrick Donovan (1922–2012), Australian ambassador to OECD and UN
• James G. Donovan (1898–1987), Democratic politician, former New York State Senator and US Representative
• James H. Donovan (1923–1990), Republican politician, former New York State Senator
• Jeremiah Donovan (1857–1935), Connecticut politician
• Jerome F. Donovan (1872–1949), US Representative from New York
• J. J. Donovan (1858–1937), Washington state pioneer and politician
• Johannah Leddy Donovan (born 1944), American educator and politician
• John Thomas Donovan (1878–1922), Irish nationalist politician
• Raymond J. Donovan (1930–2021), American businessman and Secretary of Labor (1981–1985)
• Shaun Donovan (born 1966), American former US Secretary of Housing and Urban Development and director of the Office of Management and Budget
• Terence Donovan, Baron Donovan (1898–1971), British Labour Party politician and judge

• Edward Westby Donovan (1821–1897), commander of British Troops in China, also colonel of the East Yorkshire Regiment
• Francis L. Donovan, US Marine Corps general
• James B. Donovan (1916–1970), American lawyer and sailor
• Matthew Donovan (born 1958), Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, retired US Air Force colonel
• William J. Donovan (1883–1959), American lawyer, soldier, and espionage chief

• Art Donovan (1924–2013), American football player
• Bill Donovan (1876–1923), American baseball player and manager
• Bill Donovan (Boston Braves pitcher) (1916–1997), American baseball player
• Billy Donovan (born 1965), American basketball coach
• Brendan Donovan (born 1997), German–born American baseball player
• Dick Donovan (1927–1997), Major League Baseball pitcher
• Don Donovan (1929–2013), Irish footballer and manager
• Joshua Donovan (born 1999), American football player
• Kevin Donovan (born 1971), English footballer
• Landon Donovan (born 1982), American soccer player
• Professor Mike Donovan (1847–1918), American bare-knuckle boxer and teacher
• Patsy Donovan (1865–1953), Irish-American professional baseball player
• Roy Donovan (1903–1972), Australian rules footballer
• Shean Donovan (born 1975), Canadian ice hockey player

• Allen F. Donovan (1914–1995), American aerospace engineer
• Carrie Donovan (1928–2001), American fashion magazine editor
• Daniel Donovan (died 1880), doctor of medicine and author
• Hedley Donovan (1914–1990), American magazine editor
• Jean Donovan (1953–1980), American lay missionary
• Jim Donovan (banker) (born 1967), a managing director at Goldman Sachs
• John Anthony Donovan (1911–1991), Bishop of Toledo
• Paul Donovan (economist) (born 1972), UBS Global Chief Economist
• Paul Vincent Donovan (1924–2011), Bishop of Kalamazoo

• Donovan Alexander (born 1985), Canadian football player
• Donovan Arp (born 1978), American football player

• Donovan Bailey (born 1967), Jamaican-Canadian sprinter
• Donovan Bennett (1964–2005), Jamaican criminal
• Donovan Bixley (born 1971), New Zealand author
• Donovan Blake (born 1961), Jamaican-born American cricketer
• Donovan Boucher (born 1961), Jamaican-Canadian boxer
• Donovan Brown, Canadian actor
• Donovan Browning (1916–1997), English footballer

• Donovan Carrillo (born 1999), Mexican figure skater
• Donovan Casey (born 1996), American baseball player
• Donovan Cech (born 1974), South African rower
• Donovan Chapman, American musician
• Donovan Clingan (born 2004), American basketball player
• Donovan Cook (born 1968), American film director
• Donovan Stewart Correll (1908–1983), American botanist

• Donovan Deekman (born 1988), Dutch footballer
• Donovan Dela Cruz (born 1973), American politician
• Donovan Dent, American basketball player
• Donovan Drayton, American musician
• Donovan Duckie (born 1976), Jamaican football manager
• Donovan Džavoronok (born 1997), Czech volleyball player

• Donovan Ebanks (1952–2024), Caymanian diplomat
• Donovan Edwards (born 2003), American football player
• Donovan Ewolo (born 1996), Cameroonian footballer
• Donovan Ezeiruaku (born 2003), American football player

• Donovan Fenton (born 1988), American politician
• Donovan Ferreira (born 1998), South African cricketer
• Donovan Forbes, American football player
• Donovan W. Frank (born 1951), American judge
• Donavon Frankenreiter (born 1972), American singer-songwriter

• Donovan Gans (born 1971), American football player
• Donovan Germain (born 1952), Jamaican musician
• Donovan Greer (born 1974), American football player
• Donovan Grobbelaar (born 1983), New Zealand cricketer

• Donovan Hand (born 1986), American baseball player
• Donovan Henry (born 1978), South African cricketer
• Donovan Hohn (born 1972), American author

• Donovan Isom (born 1994), American football player

• Donovan Jackson (born 2002), American football player
• Donovan Jeter (born 1998), American football player
• Donovan Joyce (1910–1980), Australian radio producer

• Donovan King (born 1972), Canadian historian
• Donovan Koch (born 1976), South African cricketer

• Donovan Leitch (actor) (born 1967), British-American actor
• Donovan Léon (born 1992), French Guianese footballer
• Donovan Lentz (born 1982), South African cricketer

• Donovan Makoma (born 1999), French footballer
• Donovan Malcolm (born 1959), Jamaican cricketer
• Donovan Matthews (born 1971), Guyanese cricketer
• Donovan Maury (born 1981), Belgian footballer
• Donovan McClelland (1949–2018), Irish politician
• Donovan James McCune (1902–1976), American pediatrician
• Donovan McNabb (born 1976), American football player
• Donovan Miller (born 1979), Jamaican cricketer
• Donovan Mitchell (born 1996), American basketball player
• Donovan Morgan (born 1976), American professional wrestler
• Donovan Morgan (American football) (born 1982), American football player

• Donovan Olson (born 1965), American politician
• Donovan Olumba (born 1995), American football player
• Donovan Osborne (born 1969), American baseball player

• Donovan Pagon (born 1982), West Indian cricketer
• Donovan Patton (born 1978), American actor
• Donovan Pedelty (1903–1989), British journalist
• Donovan Peoples-Jones (born 1999), American football player
• Donovan Pines (born 1998), American soccer player
• Donovan Porterie (born 1987), American football player
• Donovan Powell (born 1971), Jamaican sprinter

• Donovan Raiola (born 1982), American football player
• Donovan Reid (born 1963), British sprinter
• Donovan Richards (born 1983), American politician
• Donovan Ricketts (born 1977), Jamaican soccer player
• Donovan Rose (born 1957), American football player
• Donovan Reginald Rosevear (1900–1986), British forester
• Donovan Ruddock (born 1963), Jamaican-Canadian boxer

• Donovan Scott (born 1947), American actor
• Donovan Sebrango (born 2002), Canadian ice hockey player
• Donovan Simmonds (born 1988), English footballer
• Donovan Sinclair (born 1985), Jamaican cricketer
• Donovan Solano (born 1987), Colombian baseball player
• Donovan Slijngard (born 1987), Dutch footballer
• Donovan Small (born 1964), American football player
• Donovan Smith (born 1993), American football player
• Donovan Smith (quarterback) (born 2001), American football player
• Donovan Swailes (1982–1984), Canadian politician
• Donovan Swanton (1891–1976), American soldier

• Donovan Taofifénua (born 1999), French rugby union footballer
• Donovan Tildesley (born 1984), Canadian swimmer

• Donovan van den Heever (born 1981), South African chess player

• Donovan Walton (born 1994), American baseball player
• Donovan Ward (born 1962), South African artist
• Donovan Warren (born 1989), American football player
• Donovan Webster (1959–2018), American journalist
• Donovan Williams (disambiguation), multiple people
• Donovan Wilson (disambiguation), multiple people
• Donovan Winter (1933–2015), British filmmaker
• Donovan Wisse (born 1997), Surinamese-Dutch kickboxer
• Donovan Woods (disambiguation), multiple people
• Donovan Wylie (born 1971), Northern Irish photographer

• Clyde Donovan, one of the fourth graders at South Park elementary, portrayed by Trey Parker
• Curtis Donovan, a character from Misfits
• Donovan Curtis, protagonist of Ungifted, a 2012 children's novel by Gordon Korman
• Donovan Holloway, one of several main characters in American Horror Story: Hotel, portrayed by Matt Bomer
• Victor Donovan, main antagonist in the Dead or Alive series
• Walter Donovan the main antagonist of Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
• W. H. Donovan, in the novel Donovan's Brain by Curt Siodmak
• Donovan, original name Of Specter Knight in the video game expansion Shovel Knight: Specter of Torment
• Mike Donovan, one of the main characters of the original V franchise

• Donovan (disambiguation)
• O'Donovan (surname)