Glen
Glen is a boy's name of Celtic origin.
Meaning
Valley or secluded glen.
Origin and history
Glen is a masculine name derived from the Gaelic word 'gleann', meaning a narrow valley or dale. It became popular in the English-speaking world during the 19th and 20th centuries. While widely used mid-century in the United States, its modern usage has become much less common.
Popularity in the United States
125,706 babies in the United States have been named Glen since 1880. It ranks #268 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #1523.
States where it is most popular
- CA (7.5 %)
- TX (5.8 %)
- IL (5.8 %)
- OH (4.6 %)
- NY (4.6 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 437 |
| 1890-1900 | 959 |
| 1900-1910 | 1,337 |
| 1910-1920 | 8,544 |
| 1920-1930 | 14,965 |
| 1930-1940 | 14,486 |
| 1940-1950 | 16,553 |
| 1950-1960 | 25,395 |
| 1960-1970 | 21,877 |
| 1970-1980 | 9,834 |
| 1980-1990 | 5,331 |
| 1990-2000 | 3,113 |
| 2000-2010 | 1,525 |
| 2010-2019 | 945 |
| 2020-2029 | 405 |
Famous people named Glen
- Glen Campbell: Singer, Guitarist
- Glen Benton: Musician, Singer
- Glen Powell: Actor, Producer
Fun facts
- The name originally referred to someone who lived near a narrow, secluded valley, derived from the Scottish Gaelic and Irish word 'gleann'.
- Glen reached its height of popularity in the U.S. during the mid-20th century, particularly between the 1920s and 1960s.