Fun Facts About the Name Glen
- More than 127 thousand babies named Glen: U.S. records list 127,051 babies given the name Glen from 1880 through 2025. Even 1,348 girls received the name Glen - about 1 girl for every 93 boys.
What Does the Name Glen Mean?
Glen is a masculine given name of Scottish Gaelic origin. It comes from the Scottish Gaelic word gleann, meaning valley or glen. The same word exists in Irish as gleann, and the English word glen was borrowed from Scottish Gaelic to describe a narrow valley, especially in Scotland or Ireland. The personal name is a transferred use of that landscape word or of the surname Glen, which began as a topographic name for someone who lived in a valley. Glen is not the same name as the Welsh Glyn, which comes from the Welsh word glyn, also meaning valley; the two are related Celtic terms but entered English naming separately.
Glen Name History & Origins
The root word is recorded in Old Irish as glenn, which became gleann in modern Irish and Scottish Gaelic. It appears in many Scottish and Irish place names, such as Glencoe and Glenfinnan in Scotland and Glenveagh in Ireland. From such place names came the surname Glen, used by families associated with those locations. Scottish and Irish emigration carried the surname to North America, Australia, and other English-speaking regions.
The given name Glen developed from the surname and from the general word glen. It is a modern personal name rather than an ancient Gaelic personal name; Gaelic speakers used gleann chiefly in place names. Glen became established as a first name in the English-speaking world during the 19th and 20th centuries, and the spelling Glenn is a common variant. The two spellings are often treated as the same name. Glen is chiefly masculine, though it has occasionally been used for girls. Because the name comes from a common landscape term, it does not have a single origin story, saint, or literary character behind it.
How Popular is the Name Glen?
Glen recorded its highest annual U.S. birth count in 1957. Its best rank was #112 in 1931.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | #12,452 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1985 | #8,646 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1984 | #10,972 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1981 | #9,479 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1980 | #10,913 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1976 | #9,789 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1974 | #6,439 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1973 | #7,752 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1972 | #7,588 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1971 | #4,908 | 11 | 0.0007% |
| 1970 | #4,115 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 1969 | #3,842 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 1968 | #3,675 | 14 | 0.0009% |
| 1967 | #4,738 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1966 | #4,041 | 11 | 0.0007% |
| 1965 | #3,620 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1964 | #5,165 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1963 | #3,872 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1962 | #2,625 | 22 | 0.0011% |
| 1961 | #3,238 | 16 | 0.0008% |
| 1960 | #5,351 | 7 | 0.0003% |
| 1959 | #2,623 | 20 | 0.0010% |
| 1958 | #2,409 | 23 | 0.0011% |
| 1957 | #2,373 | 23 | 0.0011% |
| 1956 | #2,564 | 20 | 0.0010% |
| 1955 | #2,180 | 25 | 0.0013% |
| 1954 | #2,329 | 22 | 0.0011% |
| 1953 | #2,863 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 1952 | #2,152 | 23 | 0.0012% |
| 1951 | #2,210 | 21 | 0.0012% |
| 1950 | #2,591 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 1949 | #2,168 | 21 | 0.0012% |
| 1948 | #2,092 | 22 | 0.0013% |
| 1947 | #3,542 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1946 | #2,048 | 21 | 0.0013% |
| 1945 | #1,953 | 19 | 0.0015% |
| 1944 | #2,548 | 13 | 0.0010% |
| 1943 | #2,920 | 11 | 0.0008% |
| 1942 | #2,341 | 15 | 0.0011% |
| 1941 | #2,302 | 14 | 0.0012% |
| 1940 | #1,607 | 24 | 0.0021% |
| 1939 | #1,827 | 19 | 0.0017% |
| 1938 | #1,772 | 20 | 0.0018% |
| 1937 | #1,596 | 23 | 0.0022% |
| 1936 | #1,762 | 19 | 0.0018% |
| 1935 | #1,525 | 24 | 0.0023% |
| 1934 | #1,949 | 17 | 0.0016% |
| 1933 | #1,491 | 25 | 0.0025% |
| 1932 | #1,906 | 18 | 0.0017% |
| 1931 | #1,406 | 28 | 0.0026% |
| 1930 | #1,415 | 30 | 0.0027% |
| 1929 | #1,430 | 29 | 0.0026% |
| 1928 | #1,406 | 31 | 0.0027% |
| 1927 | #1,343 | 36 | 0.0030% |
| 1926 | #1,314 | 36 | 0.0030% |
| 1925 | #1,662 | 26 | 0.0021% |
| 1924 | #2,353 | 16 | 0.0013% |
| 1923 | #1,610 | 27 | 0.0022% |
| 1922 | #1,591 | 28 | 0.0023% |
| 1921 | #1,890 | 22 | 0.0018% |
| 1920 | #1,774 | 23 | 0.0019% |
| 1919 | #1,771 | 22 | 0.0019% |
| 1918 | #1,424 | 30 | 0.0026% |
| 1917 | #1,676 | 22 | 0.0020% |
| 1916 | #1,554 | 24 | 0.0023% |
| 1915 | #1,701 | 20 | 0.0020% |
| 1914 | #2,057 | 12 | 0.0016% |
| 1913 | #2,224 | 9 | 0.0014% |
| 1912 | #1,655 | 12 | 0.0022% |
| 1911 | #2,628 | 5 | 0.0012% |
| 1909 | #1,658 | 8 | 0.0023% |
| 1907 | #2,189 | 5 | 0.0016% |
| 1906 | #1,182 | 11 | 0.0037% |
| 1905 | #1,784 | 6 | 0.0021% |
| 1904 | #1,553 | 7 | 0.0025% |
| 1903 | #1,495 | 7 | 0.0027% |
| 1901 | #1,782 | 5 | 0.0021% |
| 1900 | #1,818 | 6 | 0.0020% |
| 1898 | #1,425 | 7 | 0.0027% |
| 1897 | #1,445 | 6 | 0.0026% |
| 1896 | #1,346 | 7 | 0.0029% |
| 1894 | #1,407 | 6 | 0.0027% |
| 1892 | #1,345 | 6 | 0.0028% |
| 1890 | #1,265 | 6 | 0.0032% |
| 1888 | #1,361 | 5 | 0.0028% |
| 1887 | #1,206 | 5 | 0.0034% |
| 1885 | #1,108 | 5 | 0.0038% |
| 1884 | #1,082 | 5 | 0.0039% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #2,026 | 74 | 0.0043% |
| 2024 | #2,315 | 61 | 0.0036% |
| 2023 | #2,398 | 57 | 0.0033% |
| 2022 | #2,103 | 71 | 0.0041% |
| 2021 | #1,817 | 86 | 0.0049% |
| 2020 | #2,424 | 54 | 0.0031% |
| 2019 | #1,984 | 74 | 0.0041% |
| 2018 | #1,903 | 78 | 0.0043% |
| 2017 | #1,612 | 99 | 0.0054% |
| 2016 | #1,803 | 84 | 0.0044% |
| 2015 | #1,672 | 94 | 0.0049% |
| 2014 | #1,527 | 105 | 0.0055% |
| 2013 | #1,552 | 102 | 0.0054% |
| 2012 | #1,606 | 97 | 0.0051% |
| 2011 | #1,407 | 118 | 0.0062% |
| 2010 | #1,659 | 94 | 0.0049% |
| 2009 | #1,416 | 119 | 0.0060% |
| 2008 | #1,448 | 114 | 0.0056% |
| 2007 | #1,313 | 131 | 0.0063% |
| 2006 | #1,310 | 126 | 0.0061% |
| 2005 | #1,228 | 129 | 0.0065% |
| 2004 | #1,082 | 147 | 0.0074% |
| 2003 | #970 | 166 | 0.0084% |
| 2002 | #891 | 182 | 0.0094% |
| 2001 | #838 | 194 | 0.0100% |
| 2000 | #765 | 217 | 0.0110% |
| 1999 | #778 | 204 | 0.0106% |
| 1998 | #741 | 218 | 0.0114% |
| 1997 | #682 | 237 | 0.0126% |
| 1996 | #647 | 259 | 0.0137% |
| 1995 | #591 | 301 | 0.0158% |
| 1994 | #574 | 321 | 0.0166% |
| 1993 | #553 | 337 | 0.0172% |
| 1992 | #526 | 370 | 0.0185% |
| 1991 | #484 | 416 | 0.0206% |
| 1990 | #464 | 450 | 0.0219% |
| 1989 | #428 | 480 | 0.0240% |
| 1988 | #390 | 507 | 0.0265% |
| 1987 | #381 | 505 | 0.0270% |
| 1986 | #394 | 463 | 0.0251% |
| 1985 | #360 | 510 | 0.0276% |
| 1984 | #340 | 549 | 0.0304% |
| 1983 | #344 | 527 | 0.0294% |
| 1982 | #330 | 581 | 0.0320% |
| 1981 | #312 | 609 | 0.0340% |
| 1980 | #320 | 599 | 0.0336% |
| 1979 | #321 | 586 | 0.0340% |
| 1978 | #291 | 653 | 0.0398% |
| 1977 | #293 | 667 | 0.0406% |
| 1976 | #261 | 751 | 0.0479% |
| 1975 | #250 | 808 | 0.0517% |
| 1974 | #244 | 818 | 0.0520% |
| 1973 | #242 | 867 | 0.0556% |
| 1972 | #202 | 1,153 | 0.0711% |
| 1971 | #174 | 1,533 | 0.0867% |
| 1970 | #155 | 1,998 | 0.1075% |
| 1969 | #136 | 2,241 | 0.1253% |
| 1968 | #162 | 1,667 | 0.0959% |
| 1967 | #157 | 1,710 | 0.0981% |
| 1966 | #161 | 1,749 | 0.0981% |
| 1965 | #149 | 2,068 | 0.1112% |
| 1964 | #154 | 2,125 | 0.1066% |
| 1963 | #143 | 2,358 | 0.1161% |
| 1962 | #129 | 2,830 | 0.1368% |
| 1961 | #134 | 2,688 | 0.1266% |
| 1960 | #144 | 2,441 | 0.1145% |
| 1959 | #134 | 2,694 | 0.1262% |
| 1958 | #131 | 2,797 | 0.1318% |
| 1957 | #129 | 2,925 | 0.1356% |
| 1956 | #125 | 2,720 | 0.1286% |
| 1955 | #131 | 2,490 | 0.1209% |
| 1954 | #131 | 2,496 | 0.1224% |
| 1953 | #129 | 2,389 | 0.1211% |
| 1952 | #121 | 2,492 | 0.1282% |
| 1951 | #127 | 2,220 | 0.1179% |
| 1950 | #125 | 2,173 | 0.1214% |
| 1949 | #127 | 2,203 | 0.1242% |
| 1948 | #133 | 2,046 | 0.1166% |
| 1947 | #138 | 2,070 | 0.1131% |
| 1946 | #143 | 1,677 | 0.1033% |
| 1945 | #148 | 1,395 | 0.1037% |
| 1944 | #147 | 1,451 | 0.1065% |
| 1943 | #146 | 1,445 | 0.1012% |
| 1942 | #144 | 1,421 | 0.1029% |
| 1941 | #139 | 1,410 | 0.1148% |
| 1940 | #130 | 1,434 | 0.1237% |
| 1939 | #123 | 1,428 | 0.1290% |
| 1938 | #121 | 1,464 | 0.1320% |
| 1937 | #122 | 1,357 | 0.1272% |
| 1936 | #119 | 1,441 | 0.1389% |
| 1935 | #124 | 1,396 | 0.1341% |
| 1934 | #120 | 1,442 | 0.1396% |
| 1933 | #124 | 1,335 | 0.1346% |
| 1932 | #118 | 1,465 | 0.1403% |
| 1931 | #112 | 1,563 | 0.1503% |
| 1930 | #114 | 1,595 | 0.1453% |
| 1929 | #123 | 1,427 | 0.1327% |
| 1928 | #115 | 1,595 | 0.1440% |
| 1927 | #115 | 1,617 | 0.1435% |
| 1926 | #121 | 1,519 | 0.1368% |
| 1925 | #117 | 1,537 | 0.1377% |
| 1924 | #118 | 1,518 | 0.1340% |
| 1923 | #121 | 1,450 | 0.1323% |
| 1922 | #123 | 1,384 | 0.1272% |
| 1921 | #119 | 1,506 | 0.1367% |
| 1920 | #122 | 1,412 | 0.1327% |
| 1919 | #116 | 1,389 | 0.1417% |
| 1918 | #125 | 1,318 | 0.1300% |
| 1917 | #122 | 1,235 | 0.1334% |
| 1916 | #122 | 1,156 | 0.1299% |
| 1915 | #123 | 1,112 | 0.1310% |
| 1914 | #123 | 853 | 0.1303% |
| 1913 | #129 | 606 | 0.1182% |
| 1912 | #139 | 460 | 0.1070% |
| 1911 | #145 | 231 | 0.1022% |
| 1910 | #165 | 184 | 0.0947% |
| 1909 | #145 | 178 | 0.1085% |
| 1908 | #150 | 158 | 0.1024% |
| 1907 | #151 | 150 | 0.1022% |
| 1906 | #165 | 120 | 0.0901% |
| 1905 | #158 | 128 | 0.0967% |
| 1904 | #159 | 120 | 0.0937% |
| 1903 | #152 | 121 | 0.1015% |
| 1902 | #149 | 123 | 0.1003% |
| 1901 | #151 | 105 | 0.0986% |
| 1900 | #155 | 134 | 0.0891% |
| 1899 | #150 | 101 | 0.0951% |
| 1898 | #154 | 111 | 0.0905% |
| 1897 | #176 | 88 | 0.0780% |
| 1896 | #146 | 113 | 0.0945% |
| 1895 | #151 | 102 | 0.0869% |
| 1894 | #143 | 108 | 0.0933% |
| 1893 | #190 | 77 | 0.0686% |
| 1892 | #152 | 106 | 0.0869% |
| 1891 | #157 | 85 | 0.0840% |
| 1890 | #195 | 68 | 0.0612% |
| 1889 | #219 | 58 | 0.0525% |
| 1888 | #196 | 77 | 0.0637% |
| 1887 | #218 | 52 | 0.0513% |
| 1886 | #245 | 49 | 0.0442% |
| 1885 | #246 | 45 | 0.0417% |
| 1884 | #252 | 47 | 0.0411% |
| 1883 | #320 | 27 | 0.0258% |
| 1882 | #336 | 27 | 0.0237% |
| 1881 | #286 | 31 | 0.0308% |
| 1880 | #350 | 24 | 0.0217% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
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How the Name Glen Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You are introspective, prophetic, philosophical, and soul searching, but also can be analytical, critical and opinionated. You think deeply and clearly, have an air of mystery, can be solitary and secretive. You have an eventful, exciting life. You are versatile and have the ability to learn easily.
You are always looking for an opportunity to achieve financial and emotional security. You are basically peacemaker. You understand the law of harmony and desire to balance your life with those around you. You may feel incomplete without someone to share your love, ideals, wealth or work. You can be very sensitive and could appear a bit shy and perceptive. You have developed intuition, patience and the ability to nurture others. You can achieve the state of happiness if you are willing to accept your needs in a complimentary relationship and go to create them.
✦ Glen's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Glen's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.