Donovan

[ivyblossom]

I was looking up the history of the name "Donovan" (because I was considering it for a character name, and I wanted to know when it first came into regular use as a first name), and I found this:

The boy's name Donovan is pronounced DAH-na-vun.

Can an Irish person (or English person?) help me out with this one? Is this an American pronunciation key, or do you really say it that way? I would have thought it was DAWN-a-vun.

Comments

[fractalreality.livejournal.com]

I'd pronounce it DON-a-vun, but then that might be a dialectical thing.

[ivyblossom.livejournal.com]

Yeah I guess we'll see. I would think it would have an O sound rather than an A sound, but I want to make sure that's right. Thanks! Your guess is better than mine. :)

[fractalreality.livejournal.com]

I know how I say it, just am never good at phonetics!
But yeah, the beginning has always been pronounced as it is written by people I know; and I'm pretty sure Londoners aren't all weird :P

[chaya.livejournal.com]

East-coast girl says: word.

[frozen-jelly.livejournal.com]

Me too, as in Jason Donavon!