Allen
Allen is a boy's name of Celtic origin.
Meaning
Little rock, handsome, or harmony.
Origin and history
Allen is a traditional masculine name of Celtic origin, commonly interpreted to mean 'little rock', 'handsome', or 'harmony'. It has a long history of use in the United States, maintaining a steady presence in the top 1000 names since 1880. While historically popular, its recent usage places it outside the top 500.
Popularity in the United States
271,796 babies in the United States have been named Allen since 1880. It ranks #138 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #527.
States where it is most popular
- CA (7.7 %)
- NY (6.7 %)
- TX (5.8 %)
- PA (5.5 %)
- IL (4.9 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 1,998 |
| 1890-1900 | 2,002 |
| 1900-1910 | 2,558 |
| 1910-1920 | 11,493 |
| 1920-1930 | 20,092 |
| 1930-1940 | 24,356 |
| 1940-1950 | 39,049 |
| 1950-1960 | 47,322 |
| 1960-1970 | 37,694 |
| 1970-1980 | 21,667 |
| 1980-1990 | 21,904 |
| 1990-2000 | 16,951 |
| 2000-2010 | 12,581 |
| 2010-2019 | 8,821 |
| 2020-2029 | 3,308 |
Famous people named Allen
- Allen Ginsberg: Poet, Writer
- Allen Iverson: Athlete, Basketball Player
- Allen Covert: Actor, Comedian
Nicknames
Al, Albie
Fun facts
- Allen is one of several common spellings of the name, along with Alan and Allan.
- Introduced to England during the Norman Conquest by Breton followers of William the Conqueror.