The baby name Declan blends Irish roots with a very current sound.
Thanks to Cat for suggesting our Baby Name of the Day.
WHAT DOES THE NAME DECLAN MEAN?
The future saint Declan established a monastery at Ardmore during the 5th century. The ruins are still a destination for pilgrims, all these centuries later.
Unlike the Roman-born Patrick, Declan was Irish by birth, born in Munster. Like several of his countrymen, he traveled to Rome for an education, and was also ordained there. If it’s true, he’s one of several religious leaders who brought Christianity to Ireland before Saint Patrick.
In Irish, it’s typically spelled Deaglan, though the pronunciation is unchanged.
The name’s meaning is uncertain, though the first syllable probably comes from the Old Irish word dag, meaning good. It’s often interpreted as “full of goodness.”
IRISH IMPORT
American parents love Irish baby names. After all, close to 10% of Americans claim Irish ancestry.
We’ve been importing names for generations, too. Patrick gave way to Brian, followed by Ryan and Connor and Brendan.
Declan also arrived in the late 1990s. The name’s Irish heritage helped, but pop culture gets most of the credit.
In 1997, actor Richard Gere played a former Irish Republican Army sniper by the name in The Jackal. Gere’s character reluctantly agreed to help the FBI and Russian intelligence hunt down an assassin. The bad guy? Played by Bruce Willis. Despite mediocre reviews, audiences loved it.
Other places parents might have heard the name include:
- It’s the given name of London-born musician Elvis Costello, already well known in the US by the late 1990s.
- BBC television presenter Dec Donnelly, long known as half of Ant and Dec, also shares the name. The duo has hosted everything from children’s television to reality competitions like Britain’s Got Talent.
- Television has given us characters by the name on Kyle XY, Degrassi, Breaking Bad, Vampire Diaries, Mysterious Ways, and Revenge to name just a few.
- Singer Declan McKenna is best known for his song, “Brazil,” a protest song about the FIFA World Cup held in that country.
- In 2010, Amy Adams starred in the rom com Leap Year. She’s traveling to Dublin – or trying to – when she runs into Declan, played by Matthew Goode. It wasn’t a hit, but it was more place parents drawn to all things Irish might discover the name.
HOW POPULAR IS THE NAME DECLAN?
Declan obviously has a long history of use in Ireland. It peaked in popularity around the 1970s, making it a bit of a dad name now.
It remained popular across the UK into the 1990s and early 2000s.
The baby name Declan debuted in the US data way back in 1951, with five births.
When the 1997 movie debuted, parents embraced the name. Declan debuted in the US Top 1000 in 1998.
The name reached an all-time high ranking of #95 in 2019. It’s quietly receded since then, but at #139 as of 2025, remains a favorite for many.
One appealing factor: unlike all the Aidens from the early 2000s, this name feel distinct. Compared to surnames like Riley and Murphy, it’s also unlikely to be unisex. Just 17 girls were named Declan in the US in 2025, compared to well over 2500 boys.
WEARABLE FAVORITE
The first version of this post, published in March 2009, warned “be aware that this name could follow other Irish favorites up the charts and easily land in the Top 200 – or higher.”
That’s happened, of course. But Declan avoided the very heights of popularity in the US. Instead, it’s mellowed into a very wearable choice. It still reads Irish, but only slightly. With nicknames Dec or Dex, and so many two-syllable, ends-with-N names for boys ranked in the US Top 1000, this feels like a very solid 21st century pick for a son.
If you’re after something strong, but not overly traditional, with a hint of kelly green about it, Declan might be the perfect pick for your family.
What do you think of the baby name Declan?
First published on March 10, 2009, this post was revised on March 28, 2016 and again on October 27, 2026.
I really liked Declan when we were choosing my son’s name a few years ago, but it’s fast rise in popularity wasn’t my favorite. We went with Devlin instead (Dev for nickname), which sounded similar but felt more unique for our corner of the world. We love it!
Leaving my obvious bias out of the equation, I really like the name Declan. That said, I am from Australia and everyone I’ve met has had some experience with the name. The English spelling has meant I’ve never really had to correct anyone. And yes Kat, it’s pronouced ‘DECK-lan’. I also hope I run into you SophieGray and show you that we aren’t all bad 😛
My 8 year old boy is Declan… we’re in California. We have run into two or three others with the name, but it is typically new to most folks. I’m half Irish and my husband is 1/3. It’s a great name. Sturdy but Romantic. And Different! My boy has three Matthews in his class and there are so many Tylers and Jacobs. All great names, but just too over used!