Declan
Say it: DEK-lan/ˈdɛklən/
BoyIrish6 letters2 syllables
#348
in Ireland (2025)
#336 with spellings combined
11
babies in 2025
#12
best rank (1971)
10,909
babies since 1964
Down 71
10-year rank change
Declan through the years
Compare with another name →Show the numbers
| Year | Babies (boys) | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 11 | #336 |
| 2024 | 10 | #360 |
| 2023 | 8 | #426 |
| 2022 | 13 | #320 |
| 2021 | 14 | #300 |
| 2020 | 6 | #472 |
| 2019 | 10 | #357 |
| 2018 | 11 | #342 |
| 2017 | 7 | #443 |
| 2016 | 20 | #245 |
| 2015 | 18 | #265 |
| 2014 | 23 | #237 |
| 2013 | 22 | #245 |
| 2012 | 18 | #267 |
| 2011 | 28 | #204 |
| 2010 | 33 | #189 |
| 2009 | 32 | #177 |
| 2008 | 41 | #159 |
| 2007 | 27 | #186 |
| 2006 | 35 | #149 |
| 2005 | 35 | #141 |
| 2004 | 46 | #118 |
| 2003 | 37 | #128 |
| 2002 | 41 | #112 |
| 2001 | 40 | #115 |
| 2000 | 44 | #109 |
| 1999 | 45 | #103 |
| 1998 | 44 | #98 |
| 1997 | 82 | #81 |
| 1996 | 87 | #77 |
| 1995 | 84 | #75 |
| 1994 | 100 | #69 |
| 1993 | 101 | #69 |
| 1992 | 125 | #61 |
| 1991 | 133 | #59 |
| 1990 | 173 | #49 |
| 1989 | 172 | #45 |
| 1988 | 189 | #42 |
| 1987 | 234 | #40 |
| 1986 | 245 | #40 |
| 1985 | 229 | #44 |
| 1984 | 253 | #42 |
| 1983 | 269 | #40 |
| 1982 | 305 | #38 |
| 1981 | 343 | #29 |
| 1980 | 348 | #32 |
| 1979 | 310 | #30 |
| 1978 | 349 | #26 |
| 1977 | 362 | #24 |
| 1976 | 413 | #21 |
| 1975 | 408 | #21 |
| 1974 | 434 | #21 |
| 1973 | 529 | #14 |
| 1972 | 526 | #15 |
| 1971 | 574 | #12 |
| 1970 | 518 | #15 |
| 1969 | 413 | #20 |
| 1968 | 399 | #21 |
| 1967 | 366 | #21 |
| 1966 | 384 | #22 |
| 1965 | 412 | #18 |
| 1964 | 321 | #23 |
Source: CSO, Irish Babies' Names (VSA50, VSA60), CC BY 4.0.
★ What does Declan mean?
Uncertain, sometimes given as "full of goodness"
Irish, from the Old Irish saint's name Declán, modern Irish Deaglán.
Say it right
DEKlan
The story of Declan
Declan is the English spelling of Declán, the name of an early Irish saint. The modern Irish form is Deaglán. Its meaning is not certain. It is often said to mean “full of goodness” or “man of prayer”, but those are popular explanations rather than a proven etymology.
St Declan founded the monastery at Ardmore in Co. Waterford in the 5th century and was the patron saint of the Déisi of east Munster. Tradition makes him one of four Munster saints who preached there before St Patrick arrived. St Declan’s Stone, a boulder on the beach at Ardmore, is said to have carried his bell across the sea. His feast day is 24 July.
Declan was one of the big Irish boys’ names of the 1960s and 1970s. Its best year was 1971, when 574 boys were named Declan and it reached number 12. It has fallen a long way since, and just 11 boys were given it in 2025. In Northern Ireland its highest place was 54th, in 1997, the first year of the figures there.
Say it differently where you're from, or spotted something wrong? Tell us.
Sources
- Wiktionary: Declan (English proper noun)
- Wikipedia: Declan (given name)
- Wikipedia: Declán of Ardmore
- CSO VSA50, Boys Names in Ireland with 3 or More Occurrences
- NISRA, Baby Names in Northern Ireland
At a glance
Similar names
Sibling ideas
Nicknames
Dec
Spellings counted here
| Spelling | 2025 | All years |
|---|---|---|
| Declan | 11 | 10,909 |
In Northern Ireland
#270 in 2025 with 6 babies. Best rank #54 (1997); 605 babies since 1997.
Source: NISRA, Open Government Licence.