Pronunciation
Dun-uh-kha
Meaning
Brown-haired warrior
Related forms: Donnacha (related irish form).
Alternate spellings
Donnacha; Donnachadh; Donnchadh
Fun fact
Donncha is another Irish spelling of Donnacha. There are a few ways to spell this, including Donnacha, Donnchadh and Donncha. Some of the older spellings look more complicated, but they're part of the same name family. The pronunciation can also change a little depending on dialect. In the older form Donnchadh, donn means brown and cath means battle. That’s the word connection behind the brown-haired warrior meaning.
Popularity in Ireland
Figures for the spelling Donncha, 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 | 7 | #468 |
| 2024 | 7 | #472 |
| 2023 | 10 | #362 |
| 2022 | 8 | #429 |
| 2021 | 4 | #631 |
| 2020 | 12 | #342 |
| 2019 | 17 | #268 |
| 2018 | 17 | #269 |
| 2017 | 18 | #263 |
| 2016 | 13 | #329 |
| 2015 | 26 | #210 |
| 2014 | 18 | #267 |
| 2013 | 32 | #192 |
| 2012 | 36 | #180 |
| 2011 | 25 | #221 |
| 2010 | 25 | #220 |
| 2009 | 32 | #177 |
| 2008 | 27 | #202 |
| 2007 | 24 | #201 |
| 2006 | 16 | #232 |
| 2005 | 9 | #283 |
| 2004 | 7 | #322 |
| 2003 | 6 | #337 |
| 2002 | 3 | #451 |
| 2001 | Less than 3 | - |
| 2000 | 6 | #274 |
| 1999 | 4 | #330 |
| 1998 | 5 | #280 |
| 1997 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1996 | 8 | #251 |
| 1995 | 3 | #334 |
| 1994 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1993 | 3 | #339 |
| 1992 | 8 | #222 |
| 1991 | 3 | #324 |
| 1990 | 4 | #286 |
| 1989 | 6 | #232 |
| 1988 | 6 | #235 |
| 1987 | 3 | #303 |
| 1986 | 8 | #217 |
| 1985 | 6 | #234 |
| 1984 | 5 | #250 |
| 1983 | 4 | #282 |
| 1982 | 8 | #223 |
| 1981 | 12 | #191 |
| 1980 | 8 | #232 |
| 1979 | 10 | #211 |
| 1978 | 9 | #212 |
| 1977 | 7 | #234 |
| 1976 | 6 | #241 |
| 1975 | 9 | #216 |
| 1974 | 4 | #288 |
| 1973 | 3 | #320 |
| 1972 | 6 | #238 |
| 1971 | 3 | #304 |
| 1970 | 5 | #251 |
| 1969 | 14 | #159 |
| 1968 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1967 | 4 | #245 |
| 1966 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1965 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1964 | Less than 3 | - |
Source: CSO, Irish Babies’ Names, tables VSA50 and VSA60. Latest year: 2025.
