Declan
DEK-lun /ˈdɛk.lən/
Meaning of Declan
Declan is the anglicised form of the Irish Deaglán, believed to derive from the Old Irish deagh ('good, excellent') + lán ('full') — 'full of goodness.' Saint Declán of Ardmore (5th–6th century) is considered one of the pre-Patrician saints of Ireland, predating Saint Patrick. The name crossed from the Irish community into mainstream English use in the early 2000s.
Current popularity of Declan
Rankings from the most recent fully-published year in each national registry. Source links at the foot of the page.
| Registry | Year | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| United States (SSA) | 2024 | #60 |
| IE | 2024 | #12 |
Notable bearers of Declan
Saint Declán of Ardmore; Declan MacManus (Elvis Costello's birth name).
Similar names & variants
Cognates, spelling variants and close relatives. Click any name with an underline to read its own page.
Sibling-name suggestions
Names that pair stylistically with Declan — useful as middle names or for siblings.
About this entry
Compiled by the Baby Name Finder editorial team following the rules in our Methodology and Editorial guidelines. If you spot an error, please tell us; our corrections policy is at /editorial-guidelines#corrections.
Sources
Last reviewed: 2026-05-31