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Name Lineage

    The first name Declan

    A boy’s name from Irish.

    Pronounced /ˈdɛklən/ 2 syllables Male

    Meaning and origin

    Irish origin

    From Old Irish Declán, whence the modern Irish equivalent Deaglán.

    From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).

    Popularity

    Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025

    In 2025, 112 boys were named Declan, making it the 372nd most popular boys’ name. It peaked in 1997, with 942 births (#69).

    05001,000 1996200020052010201520202025
    11,769
    babies named Declan, 1996–2025
    #372
    rank in 2025
    1997
    peak year

    Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Declan with other names.

    Popularity in the United States

    Babies named Declan at birth, 1880–2025

    In 2025, 2,570 boys born in the United States were named Declan, the 139th most popular boys’ name that year. It was used most in 2019, when 3,971 were.

    02,0004,000 188018851890189519001905191019151920192519301935194019451950195519601965197019751980198519901995200020052010201520202025
    58,950
    babies named Declan since 1880
    #139
    rank in 2025
    2019
    peak year

    US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.

    Declan in other languages

    Equivalent forms of the name, from Wiktionary

    Deaglán
    Irish
    Declanus
    Latin

    Nicknames and spellings

    Nicknames for Declan

    • Dec

    Famous people named Declan

    11 on Wikidata, most written-about first

    • Declan Rice
      English footballer (born 1999)
    • Declan Galbraith
      English singer, actor, born 1991
    • Declan Rudd
      English association football player, born 1991
    • Declan McKenna
      British musician, born 1998
    • Declan Hill
      Canadian journalist and author, born 2000
    • Declan Quinn
      American cinematographer, born 1957
    • Declan O'Brien
      American writer and producer, 1962–2022
    • Declan Donnelly
      English television presenter (born 1975)
    • Declan Ronan Lang
      British Catholic bishop, born 1950
    • Declan Brooks
      British bicycle motocross rider, born 1996
    • Declan Donnellan
      British theatre director (born 1953)

    More Irish boys’ names

    All 142 names of Irish origin

    Questions

    What does the name Declan mean?
    From Old Irish Declán, whence the modern Irish equivalent Deaglán.
    What is the origin of the name Declan?
    From Old Irish Declán, whence the modern Irish equivalent Deaglán.
    How popular is the name Declan?
    In 2025, 112 boys born in England and Wales were named Declan, ranking 372nd. Its peak was 1997, with 942 births.
    What are nicknames for Declan?
    Common nicknames for Declan include Dec.
    Is Declan a boy's or a girl's name?
    Mostly a boy's name: 99% of the 58,950 US babies named Declan since 1880 were boys.
    When was Declan most popular?
    2019 in the United States, when 3,971 babies were named Declan, its highest rank at 95th.
    How do you pronounce Declan?
    Declan is /ˈdɛklən/, 2 syllables.