Daegan is a unique and distinctive name of Irish origin. It is derived from the ancient Irish surname "Ó Dágeana," which was once quite common in Ireland but has since become less prevalent.
The meaning behind the name Daegan is not entirely clear, as it is believed to have been an anglicized form of an older Gaelic name. Some sources suggest that it may have come from the Irish word "dáig" or "daig," which translates to "fiery" or "ardent." However, this interpretation is not universally accepted, and the true origin and meaning of the name Daegan remain somewhat mysterious.
Despite its uncertain etymology, Daegan has a rich history in Ireland. It was once a popular surname among the Irish nobility, with several notable figures bearing the name throughout the Middle Ages. One such figure was Ruaidhrí Ó Dágeana (also spelled Rory O'More), who served as the Lord of Leix from 1358 to his death in battle in 1375.
Today, Daegan is still used as a surname in Ireland and other parts of the world where Irish immigrants have settled. However, it has also gained popularity as a given name in recent years, particularly among parents seeking unique and distinctive names for their children. While its meaning may remain somewhat elusive, there's no denying that Daegan is a powerful and memorable name with deep roots in Irish history.
The name Daegan has seen a varied trend in its popularity over the past three decades in the United States. In the early to mid-1990s, it was quite uncommon, with only ten births recorded in 1993 and thirteen in 1994. However, it began to gain traction from the late 1990s onwards.
In 1998, there were twenty-eight babies named Daegan, marking a significant increase from previous years. This upward trend continued through the early 2000s, with fifty-two births in 2006 and sixty-one in 2007 being notable peaks.
However, after reaching its peak popularity around the late 2000s to early 2010s, the name Daegan has since seen a decline in usage. Despite some fluctuations, such as forty-five births in 2013 and thirty-four in 2016, it has generally been on the downward trend in recent years.
In total, over the period from 1993 to 2022, there were eight hundred eighty-nine babies named Daegan born in the United States. This data provides an insight into the name's popularity and trends over time, demonstrating its rise and fall in usage among parents choosing names for their children.