[name_u]Love[/name_u] both of these names and can’t decide! Afraid [name_m]Donovan[/name_m] will become [name_m]Don[/name_m] / [name_u]Donnie[/name_u] and would only want [name_m]Donovan[/name_m]. But hearing [name_u]Declan[/name_u] has become super popular. [name_f]Sister[/name_f] is [name_f]Maeve[/name_f]. Last name starts with B. Really like classic Irish names. Thoughts?!
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I like both names, but prefer [name_u]Declan[/name_u] with [name_f]Maeve[/name_f].
[name_f]Edit[/name_f] to add: For what it’s worth, I’ve never met a [name_u]Declan[/name_u] of any age (I’m from the Northwest US, but work in a field where I meet people from all over).
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I like [name_u]Declan[/name_u] with sister [name_f]Maeve[/name_f].
I’ve heard of a [name_u]Declan[/name_u] or two in passing in public places, but never actually met one. I’m in the U.S. Midwest, raising young children, around kids all the time.
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Yeah, I’d avoid [name_m]Donovan[/name_m] if you dislike the nicknames. [name_u]Declan[/name_u] works well with [name_f]Maeve[/name_f] 
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[name_m]Donovan[/name_m] with [name_f]Maeve[/name_f] is lovely! Not very common, but still familiar. I also love the nickname [name_u]Van[/name_u] if you don’t like the other short forms. For what it’s worth, I don’t think [name_u]Declan[/name_u] is super popular, though. I’ve only known of a handful. Tbh, you can’t go wrong with either choice.
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I’ve never known a [name_m]Donovan[/name_m] who struggled with his name being shortened. I do know a [name_u]Declan[/name_u] who uses an alternative spelling and while I’m afraid he’s ruined the name for me, I still think it’s a nice name for other people. Come to think of it, I’ve known 2 boys named [name_u]Declan[/name_u] and only 1 [name_m]Donovan[/name_m], but it sounds like that’s an experience unique to me.
I would pick [name_u]Declan[/name_u] with [name_f]Maeve[/name_f]!
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Declan goes really well with Maeve! I know one Declan (he’s maybe ten) and I’m around kids a lot. I’d avoid Donovan if you don’t like those nicknames.
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I’ve met people with both of those names. I think they both work great with [name_f]Maeve[/name_f]. I do think [name_m]Donovan[/name_m] may be shortened to Don/Donnie, so if you really don’t like those, I would choose [name_u]Declan[/name_u]. It is on an upward trend, but it’s not extremely popular. It’s at a similar popularity level with [name_f]Maeve[/name_f].
For D names, what do you think of [name_u]Devin[/name_u], [name_u]Darren[/name_u], [name_u]Darby[/name_u], or [name_m]Duane[/name_m]?
For other Irish names, what about [name_u]Brennan[/name_u], [name_u]Kieran[/name_u], [name_m]Ronan[/name_m], [name_u]Callahan[/name_u], [name_m]Garrett[/name_m], [name_m]Gannon[/name_m], [name_m]Colin[/name_m], [name_u]Flynn[/name_u], [name_u]Keegan[/name_u], or [name_u]Sean[/name_u]?
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I like Donovan!!
[name_f]Adore[/name_f] [name_m]Donovan[/name_m]! I think the name they generally go by should ultimately be up to the child but it’s really a simple matter of making a correction to new people
[name_u]Declan[/name_u].
Personally, I’d rather be named Tupperware than any name that has [name_m]Don[/name_m] in it!
I love [name_u]Declan[/name_u] with [name_f]Maeve[/name_f]! I don’t think the name becoming popular would be a problem. If it makes you feel any better, I’m in high school right now and I haven’t met anyone named that. And anyways, even if it was really popular, it’s still a lovely name.
While I think [name_m]Donovan[/name_m] sounds alright with [name_f]Maeve[/name_f], I just can’t imagine that name on a little kid and I feel like [name_u]Declan[/name_u] has more charm.
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[name_u]Declan[/name_u], definitely. It goes better with [name_f]Maeve[/name_f], and, unlike [name_m]Donovan[/name_m], isn’t a surname.
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[name_u]Declan[/name_u]! A great name that sounds good with [name_f]Maeve[/name_f] and doesn’t have a nickname that you want to avoid.
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Definitely [name_u]Declan[/name_u], and especially because it’s a great Irish name that goes very well with [name_f]Maeve[/name_f].
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I like [name_u]Declan[/name_u] with [name_f]Maeve[/name_f]! [name_m]Donovan[/name_m] nice to but I think [name_u]Declan[/name_u] fits better. I’ve only ever met one [name_u]Declan[/name_u] so I don’t think it’s to popular ( I live in the Midwest US)
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[name_f]Maeve[/name_f] & [name_u]Declan[/name_u] were made to be sibling names. 
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I like [name_u]Declan[/name_u] better with [name_f]Maeve[/name_f]. And I think because [name_m]Donovan[/name_m] is three syllables there is a good chance it will be shortened to [name_m]Don[/name_m].
You might consider [name_u]Brennan[/name_u], [name_u]Rohan[/name_u] or [name_m]Phelan[/name_m], all Irish names that aren’t too popular. I especially like [name_m]Phelan[/name_m], pronounced FAY lan, meaning wolf. [name_u]Rohan[/name_u] is a variation of [name_u]Rowan[/name_u] meaning sandalwood. [name_u]Brennan[/name_u] means descendant of the sad one. Of all the names [name_m]Phelan[/name_m] has the most masculine meaning.
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I much prefer [name_u]Declan[/name_u] and it works beautifully with [name_f]Maeve[/name_f]. I think it is better to avoid 3 syllable names if trying to avoid the name being shortened.
I much prefer [name_m]Donovan[/name_m]!
Unpopular opinion: I’ve never totally understood the appeal of [name_u]Declan[/name_u]. [name_f]My[/name_f] eyes see declaw and my ears just hear deck.
While I imagine a shortened form might be said occasionally- I think it’s an easy correction. [name_u]Van[/name_u] is also an adorable nickname you could use
Good luck!