Boy nameCurrently #131 in the USSteady
Declan
DEK-lun//ˈdɛklən//
2 syllablesPeak year: 20196 lettersStarts with D
Meaning & origin
Full of goodness (disputed)
Declan comes from the Irish Deaglán, whose meaning is uncertain but is sometimes linked to 'full of goodness' or virtue, honoring a 5th-century Irish saint. Its rhythmic, international sound has made it a fast-rising modern choice.
Declan's popularity over time
| Year | Births named Declan |
|---|---|
| 1951 | 5 |
| 1955 | 6 |
| 1956 | 5 |
| 1957 | 6 |
| 1959 | 5 |
| 1960 | 7 |
| 1961 | 5 |
| 1962 | 5 |
| 1963 | 10 |
| 1964 | 7 |
| 1965 | 7 |
| 1966 | 5 |
| 1967 | 7 |
| 1968 | 8 |
| 1969 | 9 |
| 1970 | 11 |
| 1971 | 6 |
| 1974 | 9 |
| 1975 | 9 |
| 1976 | 7 |
| 1977 | 6 |
| 1978 | 6 |
| 1980 | 6 |
| 1981 | 10 |
| 1982 | 13 |
| 1983 | 10 |
| 1984 | 8 |
| 1985 | 15 |
| 1986 | 12 |
| 1987 | 14 |
| 1988 | 22 |
| 1989 | 34 |
| 1990 | 37 |
| 1991 | 33 |
| 1992 | 44 |
| 1993 | 49 |
| 1994 | 66 |
| 1995 | 92 |
| 1996 | 105 |
| 1997 | 124 |
| 1998 | 234 |
| 1999 | 351 |
| 2000 | 388 |
| 2001 | 537 |
| 2002 | 562 |
| 2003 | 611 |
| 2004 | 606 |
| 2005 | 842 |
| 2006 | 823 |
| 2007 | 923 |
| 2008 | 942 |
| 2009 | 1,046 |
| 2010 | 1,262 |
| 2011 | 2,182 |
| 2012 | 2,798 |
| 2013 | 3,138 |
| 2014 | 3,337 |
| 2015 | 3,608 |
| 2016 | 3,650 |
| 2017 | 3,509 |
| 2018 | 3,842 |
| 2019 | 4,007 |
| 2020 | 3,632 |
| 2021 | 3,686 |
| 2022 | 3,374 |
| 2023 | 2,844 |
| 2024 | 2,772 |
Declan through the decades
- Declan peaked in 2019, when 4,007 babies were named Declan in the US.
- The 2020s were Declan's strongest decade, averaging 3,262 births a year.
- Over the last 10 years of data (2015–2024), use of Declan has risen 102% compared to the 10 years before that.
- Declan currently ranks #131 in the US and is holding steady.
Nicknames
Dec
Variants & spellings
Deaglán