Pronunciation
Dun-a-kha / Don-a-kha
These spellings are a guide to the sound. Irish pronunciation can vary by dialect.
Meaning
Brown-haired warrior
Alternate spellings
Donnachadh; Donnchadh; Donncha
Fun fact
Donnacha, Donnchadh and Donncha are among the spellings in this name family. The name’s warrior meaning gives its soft opening a strong finish.
Popularity in Ireland
Figures for the spelling Donnacha, Republic of Ireland.
The CSO only publishes names given to three or more babies in a year. “Less than 3” means zero, one or two babies, and these years appear as gaps on the graph.
Number of babies registered each year
From 2018, spellings with and without fadas are counted separately. Earlier figures group these spellings together, so the graph has a break at 2018.
View yearly figures
| Year | Babies named | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 86 | #64 |
| 2024 | 88 | #65 |
| 2023 | 100 | #61 |
| 2022 | 140 | #46 |
| 2021 | 122 | #53 |
| 2020 | 128 | #47 |
| 2019 | 121 | #56 |
| 2018 | 116 | #57 |
| 2017 | 136 | #55 |
| 2016 | 101 | #68 |
| 2015 | 112 | #70 |
| 2014 | 92 | #86 |
| 2013 | 91 | #84 |
| 2012 | 106 | #73 |
| 2011 | 100 | #76 |
| 2010 | 72 | #102 |
| 2009 | 66 | #116 |
| 2008 | 76 | #100 |
| 2007 | 57 | #117 |
| 2006 | 45 | #126 |
| 2005 | 23 | #178 |
| 2004 | 24 | #163 |
| 2003 | 13 | #214 |
| 2002 | 12 | #216 |
| 2001 | 11 | #215 |
| 2000 | 11 | #206 |
| 1999 | 10 | #203 |
| 1998 | 6 | #242 |
| 1997 | 12 | #209 |
| 1996 | 11 | #208 |
| 1995 | 9 | #222 |
| 1994 | 6 | #247 |
| 1993 | 8 | #223 |
| 1992 | 7 | #238 |
| 1991 | 6 | #242 |
| 1990 | 8 | #216 |
| 1989 | 5 | #253 |
| 1988 | 7 | #215 |
| 1987 | 8 | #213 |
| 1986 | 13 | #181 |
| 1985 | 10 | #194 |
| 1984 | 5 | #250 |
| 1983 | 14 | #178 |
| 1982 | 10 | #205 |
| 1981 | 12 | #191 |
| 1980 | 10 | #213 |
| 1979 | 10 | #211 |
| 1978 | 6 | #242 |
| 1977 | 6 | #253 |
| 1976 | 7 | #232 |
| 1975 | 13 | #192 |
| 1974 | 4 | #288 |
| 1973 | 14 | #182 |
| 1972 | 5 | #254 |
| 1971 | 4 | #280 |
| 1970 | 6 | #235 |
| 1969 | 6 | #230 |
| 1968 | 4 | #243 |
| 1967 | 3 | #265 |
| 1966 | 5 | #219 |
| 1965 | 5 | #207 |
| 1964 | Less than 3 | - |
Source: CSO, Irish Babies’ Names, tables VSA50 and VSA60. Latest year: 2025.