Dontavis, of African origin, is a unique and distinctive given name derived from 'Donte', meaning 'God's gift'. It gained popularity in the United States during the latter half of the 20th century, becoming particularly prevalent among African American communities. The name Dontavis consists of two elements: 'Don-' as a prefix, often associated with the Latin word 'donare', meaning 'to give', and '-vis' as an ending, which may be linked to the Latin term 'vis', signifying 'strength'. Thus, Dontavis could be interpreted as 'given strength'. However, it is essential to note that there is no widely accepted etymology for this name. Dontavis typically appears in records more often than its variant forms like Dontevis or Dontez, reflecting its popularity and recognition.
"The name Dontavis experienced its peak popularity between 1987 and 1993, with a high of 23 births in 1991. However, since then, the name's usage has significantly declined, with only 6 or fewer births per year from 2011 onwards."