Declan

At a Glance: Name: Declan – Meaning: traditionally glossed as "full of goodness" (an alternate theory holds "man of prayer") – Origin: Irish – Gender: Boy – Pronunciation: DEK-lun

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Declan is an Irish name, pronounced DEK-lun, traditionally glossed as "full of goodness" (some trace it instead to "man of prayer"). It's been recorded in U.S. baby name data going back to 1951, and today it sits comfortably in the modern naming landscape for boys. If you're drawn to Irish names with some history behind them, Declan fits that search.

Meaning & Origin of Declan

Meaning: Traditionally glossed as "full of goodness" (an alternate theory holds "man of prayer").

Origin: Irish.

Source: Wiktionary, Wikipedia.

How to Pronounce Declan

Phonetic: DEK-lun   IPA: /ˈdɛklən/

Popularity of Declan

Declan peaked at #95 in 2019, when 3,971 boys were given the name, and has eased since to #131 in 2024 with 2,758 babies — still a name plenty of parents are choosing, just past its highest point so far.

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration birth-name data, 1951–2024.

Make Declan Name Art

Free printable nursery art for Declan, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.

Names With a Similar Story

Derived from shared style, era, and origin data (or, for names we have no style data for, a similar Social Security popularity trajectory) — not a hand-picked list.

• Aidan
• Brady
• Brayan
• Callan
• Carrick
• Cashel

FAQ

What does the name Declan mean?

Traditionally glossed as “full of goodness” (an alternate theory holds “man of prayer”). (Source: Wiktionary, https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Declan)

How do you pronounce Declan?

Declan is pronounced DEK-lun (IPA: /ˈdɛklən/).

Is Declan a popular name right now?

Declan peaked at #95 in 2019 and is ranked #131 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1951–2024.)

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