Thoughts on the name Declan?

babybrielove · June 2013

What do you think of the name Declan? DH and I like it but it's an irish name and we are not irish at all and it kind of screams irish to me. Also we want a name that is not too common but still one that people know and won't say, "what is it? can you spell that?". Does this name do that? Thoughts?

SuperMom17 · June 2013

I know like 4... It's very popular in my area. Not really a big fan because it seemed to be super trendy where I am.

BootsyLou · June 2013

I think it's awkward to say.

g8trkim · June 2013

I love it. We're not Irish but I would still consider it. It doesn't SCREAM Irish to me but I think enough people would realize it is Irish. I would hope people could spell it but people shock me all the time with what they don't know. I say go for it if you like it.

brooksidebride · June 2013

I love this name. It kind of does scream Irish, but I don't see that as a bad thing even if you aren't Irish at all. I only know one Declan and he's from tv. I think it's different, but not so out there that anyone would think badly about it. And I don't foresee it getting pronounced incorrectly.

ETA: I don't think it "scream" Irish. But, yes, it's obviously Irish to me, and I think other people too. But, still, I don't think that matters if you aren't Irish.

hawkeyestate · June 2013

I love it

inthelost · June 2013

I like the name, and I don't think you should have to be Irish to use it! So, if you love it then use it.

apc1929 · June 2013

It is very Irish but I don't see that as a problem. I like it I think its easy to pronounce spell and is a strong boy name

MrsApplelovesMrApple · June 2013

I'm not a big fan of it- I've been seeing it a lot lately.

caittozer · June 2013

It was my top choice name for a boy until I married a man with a very Italian last name. I couldn't do an obviously Irish name with an Italian last name. That's just me though. Also it's starting to soar in popularity if that impacts your decision at all.

Dr.Loretta · June 2013

I like it. A friend of mine used it and she and her H aren't Irish at all.

CeCe8579 · June 2013

I'm not fond of it it. I don't see the appeal but if you like it, use it. There are plenty of people who use names that are not from their heritage. Can I suggest Cormac?

EastCoastBride · June 2013

DS is Declan. There is a little Irish on my side. We even have a very Jewish last name but we still went with it.

Declan has become more popular in the past few years. DS is 4.5 and I had NEVER heard of it when we picked it, then shortly after found out a FB friend had just named her baby it and then met a Declan not long after.

But to date- those are still the only Declans I know.

kaydee_2008 · June 2013

I love it. Declan was top three on our boys list.

lady dixneuf · June 2013

My son was going to be Declan until the last few weeks before he was born. I have loved the name since I was a teenager (which is not recently) but it has gotten super trendy in the past few years. I saw an article from one of the cheesy baby sites that said it could potentially become the next Aiden. That killed it for me. I love it but like PP's have said it's really becoming trendy. I don't mind popular but I do mind trendy, you know?

That said, I don't think you need to be Irish to use it. I happen to be but it's not why I chose it (and we have a German last name).

Zimger · June 2013

I think it is clunky but it isn't terrible.

meganandchase · June 2013

I like it and I don't think people of Irish descent have a monopoly on Irish names! My daughter's name is Welsh, and we don't have a drop of Welsh in us.

jallascalla · June 2013

I like it, but I do know quite a few under the age five in my Irish/Irish-American circle of friends.

capulet · June 2013

Molly&:
It's very Irish. Personally, I wouldn't use it if I weren't Irish. I may be weird about that though. I told my friends I wouldn't use an Italian name because neither DH nor I are Italian, and most of them thought that was a silly reason.

I have to admit I feel similarly about most distinctively ethnic names, but maybe that's just because DH and I have a wide mix of backgrounds and can claim a lot of names that way. I don't know if it's because I'm not Irish or I just don't find most Irish names inherently appealing, but I haven't ever really considered any of them. I don't mind Declan but it's NMS.