What Does the Name Declan Mean?
Declan is a boy's name of Irish origin meaning “uncertain; traditionally 'man of prayer' or 'full of goodness'.”
Updated June 2026
| Name | Declan |
|---|---|
| Gender | male |
| Origin | Irish |
| Meaning | uncertain; traditionally 'man of prayer' or 'full of goodness' |
| Variants | Deaglán, Déaglán, Deglan |
| Popularity | A favorite in Ireland and now firmly in the US top 150, prized for its strong Irish heritage. |
The meaning and origin of Declan
The name Declan means “uncertain; traditionally 'man of prayer' or 'full of goodness'” and has Irish origins. Declan is the anglicized form of the Irish Deaglán (also Déaglán), of uncertain meaning, borne by a 5th-century Irish saint who founded a monastery at Ardmore. It has become a popular choice well beyond Ireland.
Variants and related names
Declan is related to several other names you may recognize: Deaglán, Déaglán, Deglan. These share a common root or are spelling and language variants of the same name.
How popular is the name Declan?
A favorite in Ireland and now firmly in the US top 150, prized for its strong Irish heritage.
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Open the name generator →Frequently asked questions
What does the name Declan mean?+
The name Declan means “uncertain; traditionally 'man of prayer' or 'full of goodness'” and is of Irish origin.
What is the origin of the name Declan?+
Declan originates from Irish.
Is Declan a popular name?+
Yes — see the popularity note above for how Declan has trended in the US over time.
Declan by gender
More boy's names
Sources
- Behind the Name — Etymology and history of first names — Behind the Name
- US Social Security Administration — Popular baby names by year — Social Security Administration
- A Dictionary of First Names — Oxford Reference — Oxford University Press