Declan Name Meaning

Learn more about the meaning, origin, and popularity of the name Declan.

If you’re looking for a strong Irish name, here is one full of meaning and history. Declan is a boy name of Irish origin, and an anglicized form of the Gaelic name Deaglán, which comprises two elements. Deagh means “good, excellent, or worthy,” and lán means “full.” Put together the name Declan means “full of goodness.”

The name Declan is also associated with the Irish saint, Declán of Ard Mór, who is thought to be one of the first missionaries to bring Christianity to Ireland before Saint Patrick. As a result, the name Declan also means “man of prayer.”

  • Origin: Declan is an Irish name meaning "full of goodness" or "man of prayer."
  • Gender: Declan is mostly used as a boy name.
  • Pronunciation: deh-klun

Editor's Note

Although many baby names are separated by gender, Parents believes that sex does not need to play a role in your name selection process. It’s important to select a name that you feel suits your new baby the best.

Declan baby name template

How Popular Is the Name Declan?

The name Declan only started ranking in the top 1,000 names for boys in 1998. But it has been in use for a while and is a common name in Ireland, Scotland, and other English-speaking countries.

Since its appearance in the US charts, Declan has been steadily climbing the ranks, reaching peak popularity in 2019 at No. 95, when it first entered the top 100 names. As of 2023, it had just dropped out of the top 100 ranking at No. 132.

Similar Names

Similar-sounding names to Declan include:

  • Daquan
  • Darian
  • Darrien
  • Deacon
  • Devin
  • Devlin
  • Devon
  • Dillon
  • Dylan
  • Kellan
  • Lachlan

Other traditionally masculine Irish names include:

  • Aiden
  • Brayden
  • Callum
  • Cormac
  • Flynn
  • Gulliver
  • Kieran
  • Liam
  • Noah
  • Nolan
  • Owen
  • Ronan
  • Rowan
  • Ryan
  • Shane

Other names starting with "D" include:

  • Damien
  • Dane
  • Daniel
  • Darius
  • Darrell
  • Dash
  • Dawson
  • Dax
  • Denver
  • Dev
  • Dhruv
  • Diallo
  • Diego
  • Dimitri

Common Nicknames for Declan

There are many nickname options that can be derived from the name Declan, including:

  • Dax
  • Dec
  • Deck
  • Dee
  • Deke
  • Dex
  • Lan

Suggested Sibling Names

Looking for a sibling name for Declan? Here are some popular options:

  • Archer
  • Bella
  • Brody
  • Corbin
  • Delaney
  • Ella
  • Finn
  • Fiona
  • Harper
  • Harrison
  • Jonah
  • Logan
  • Madison
  • Oliver
  • Quinn
  • Sabrina
  • Wyatt

Famous People Named Declan

Some notable people who share the name Declan are:

  • Declan Farmer, American ice sled hockey player, and 2014 Paralympic gold medalist
  • Declan Hughes, Irish novelist, playwright, and screenwriter known for writing crime novels such as All the Things You Are, All the Dead Voices, and The Wrong Kind of Blood
  • Declan John Galbraith, British musician, best known for his 2002 hit single, Tell Me Why
  • Declan Joseph Oliver, British television presenter, producer, singer, comedian, and actor best known as presenting duo Ant & Dec, alongside Anthony McPartlin
  • Declan Michael Laird, Scottish actor best known for his roles in the movies Hot Air, Green Rush, and Big Dogs
  • Declan Patrick McManus, Irish-English singer-songwriter, professionally known as Elvis Costello
  • Declan Shalvey, Irish comic artist and writer known for his works with both Marvel Comics and DC Comics

Fictional Declans

  • Declan Desmond, an eccentric fictional character in the animated sitcom The Simpsons
  • Declan Mulqueen, played by Richard Gere in the 1997 movie The Jackal
  • Declan O'Callaghan, one of the main characters played by Matthew Goode in the 2010 movie Leap Year
  • Declan Porter, a recurring character in the TV series Revenge

More Baby Names

Still searching for the perfect baby name? Check out these related baby name lists for even more options: 

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Sources
Parents uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
  1. Meaning of the First Name Declan. Ancestry. 2024.

  2. Popularity of a Name: DeclanSocial Security Administration. 2024.

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