Fun Facts About the Name Declan
- More than 58 thousand babies named Declan: U.S. records list 58,938 babies given the name Declan from 1880 through 2025. Even 403 girls received the name Declan - about 1 girl for every 145 boys.
What Does the Name Declan Mean?
Declan is an English form of the Irish name Déaglán. The name is often explained as 'full of goodness,' from Irish dea or deagh (good) and lán (full). That literal derivation is not securely established, however, and some reference works describe the meaning of Déaglán as uncertain. The customary gloss 'full of goodness' is therefore best treated as a traditional interpretation rather than a certain translation.
Declan Name History & Origins
The name is best known from Saint Declan of Ardmore, an Irish saint traditionally dated to the fifth century. According to tradition, he was one of the pre-Patrician saints of Ireland and founded a monastery at Ardmore in County Waterford; his feast day is 24 July. The accounts of his life are hagiographical, written to commemorate his holiness rather than to provide a contemporary biography, so the historical details remain traditional.
The Irish name Déaglán was anglicized as Declan. It remained in use in Ireland, especially in Munster, where the saint was venerated. In the modern period the English form Declan spread with Irish emigration to Britain, North America, and Australia. It is now used in Ireland and in English-speaking countries generally, while Déaglán continues as the Irish-language form.
How Popular is the Name Declan?
Declan recorded its highest annual U.S. birth count in 2019. Declan entered the top 100 U.S. boy names in 2019.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #6,606 | 17 | 0.0011% |
| 2024 | #7,662 | 14 | 0.0009% |
| 2023 | #4,585 | 30 | 0.0019% |
| 2022 | #4,613 | 30 | 0.0018% |
| 2021 | #3,754 | 40 | 0.0024% |
| 2020 | #4,373 | 31 | 0.0019% |
| 2019 | #4,031 | 36 | 0.0021% |
| 2018 | #4,585 | 30 | 0.0018% |
| 2017 | #3,791 | 40 | 0.0023% |
| 2016 | #4,886 | 28 | 0.0016% |
| 2015 | #6,083 | 21 | 0.0012% |
| 2014 | #7,401 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 2013 | #5,869 | 22 | 0.0013% |
| 2012 | #6,938 | 18 | 0.0010% |
| 2011 | #8,752 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 2010 | #17,684 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2006 | #15,616 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2001 | #13,975 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #139 | 2,570 | 0.1505% |
| 2024 | #131 | 2,758 | 0.1608% |
| 2023 | #132 | 2,814 | 0.1647% |
| 2022 | #114 | 3,344 | 0.1917% |
| 2021 | #106 | 3,646 | 0.2086% |
| 2020 | #102 | 3,601 | 0.2087% |
| 2019 | #95 | 3,971 | 0.2214% |
| 2018 | #101 | 3,812 | 0.2100% |
| 2017 | #115 | 3,469 | 0.1875% |
| 2016 | #109 | 3,622 | 0.1909% |
| 2015 | #112 | 3,587 | 0.1872% |
| 2014 | #122 | 3,321 | 0.1729% |
| 2013 | #121 | 3,116 | 0.1648% |
| 2012 | #143 | 2,780 | 0.1466% |
| 2011 | #176 | 2,169 | 0.1142% |
| 2010 | #274 | 1,257 | 0.0655% |
| 2009 | #309 | 1,046 | 0.0527% |
| 2008 | #347 | 942 | 0.0462% |
| 2007 | #348 | 923 | 0.0445% |
| 2006 | #367 | 817 | 0.0398% |
| 2005 | #353 | 842 | 0.0422% |
| 2004 | #431 | 606 | 0.0305% |
| 2003 | #423 | 611 | 0.0309% |
| 2002 | #441 | 562 | 0.0289% |
| 2001 | #454 | 531 | 0.0273% |
| 2000 | #545 | 388 | 0.0198% |
| 1999 | #569 | 351 | 0.0183% |
| 1998 | #712 | 234 | 0.0122% |
| 1997 | #1,031 | 124 | 0.0066% |
| 1996 | #1,132 | 105 | 0.0055% |
| 1995 | #1,208 | 92 | 0.0048% |
| 1994 | #1,456 | 66 | 0.0034% |
| 1993 | #1,746 | 49 | 0.0025% |
| 1992 | #1,855 | 44 | 0.0022% |
| 1991 | #2,197 | 33 | 0.0016% |
| 1990 | #2,021 | 37 | 0.0018% |
| 1989 | #2,075 | 34 | 0.0017% |
| 1988 | #2,630 | 22 | 0.0011% |
| 1987 | #3,378 | 14 | 0.0007% |
| 1986 | #3,693 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1985 | #3,104 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 1984 | #4,651 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1983 | #3,937 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1982 | #3,334 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1981 | #3,911 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1980 | #5,689 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1978 | #5,206 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1977 | #5,286 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1976 | #4,544 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1975 | #3,717 | 9 | 0.0006% |
| 1974 | #3,629 | 9 | 0.0006% |
| 1971 | #4,519 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1970 | #2,932 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1969 | #3,119 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1968 | #3,167 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1967 | #3,324 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1966 | #4,068 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1965 | #3,312 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1964 | #3,355 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1963 | #2,716 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1962 | #4,185 | 5 | 0.0002% |
| 1961 | #4,204 | 5 | 0.0002% |
| 1960 | #3,416 | 7 | 0.0003% |
| 1959 | #4,125 | 5 | 0.0002% |
| 1957 | #3,654 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1956 | #4,071 | 5 | 0.0002% |
| 1955 | #3,585 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1951 | #3,830 | 5 | 0.0003% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
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How the Name Declan Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You are strong in material matters, determined and stubborn. You have good business ability. You are a good worker, steady and practical, a builder who takes responsibility well. These qualities may bring you a position of authority and power. You are a doer, down-to-earth, serious-minded, reliable, and self-disciplined; have good power of concentration. You have an eventful, exciting life. You are versatile and have the ability to learn easily.
Creative and outgoing, you are always looking for an opportunity to show your abilities, especially before audience. You are very flexible and like to feel appreciated. You are looking for chances to mix with others socially and to communicate your ideas. You like to talk and can easily relate to different cultures and concepts. The biggest challenge for you is uncertainty. Easily getting bored, you can move from one job to another, switch projects and lovers. The high creative force can lead you either to happiness or unhappiness. If you understand your goals, if you can make major decisions in life and follow it directly and straight up without worry and uncertainty, you are able to achieve great heights.
✦ Declan's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Declan's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.