Technically ORMs attempt to deal with the mismatch between relations[1] and the rich data structures (objects) general purpose programming languages normally allow expression of. Hence the literal name: Object-Relation Mapping. That SQL, the language, is declarative is immaterial.
> but Codd's goals when developing the relational model was to allow non programmers to access data.
That is unlikely. He was staunchly opposed to database vendors adding "veneer" to make use more friendly and considered SQL an abomination. Codd was dead set on mathematical purity, which is, I'd argue, also why his vision ultimately failed in practice as actual relational databases are too hard to understand for those not well versed in the math.
[1] Technically tables, since we're talking about SQL, which isn't relational. But the mapping idea is the same either way.
Technically ORMs attempt to deal with the mismatch between relations[1] and the rich data structures (objects) general purpose programming languages normally allow expression of. Hence the literal name: Object-Relation Mapping. That SQL, the language, is declarative is immaterial.
> but Codd's goals when developing the relational model was to allow non programmers to access data.
That is unlikely. He was staunchly opposed to database vendors adding "veneer" to make use more friendly and considered SQL an abomination. Codd was dead set on mathematical purity, which is, I'd argue, also why his vision ultimately failed in practice as actual relational databases are too hard to understand for those not well versed in the math.
[1] Technically tables, since we're talking about SQL, which isn't relational. But the mapping idea is the same either way.