Allen

Allen - A very unique male name

Allen appeared on the charts for the first time in 1910 on position #97. In this article you'll learn the history of this name, statistics, see famous people named Allen and more.
Are you having a baby or looking to learn more about the name Allen? Our experts and editorial staff have gathered trends and insights for 30,000+ baby names over the last 100 years -- And on this page you will learn everything you ever wanted to know about the name Allen. The baby boy name Allen was given to 472 baby boys in 2025, ranking #579 on the national boy baby name top chart.


With that position 1 in 3,107 baby boys were given this name - making this a very unique male name according to our Popularity Score algorithm. Allen peaked in popularity 86 years ago in 1940 on position 71.

Famous with this name

How would you rate Allen, 1-5?

Allen is currently topping the charts in...

Did you know that popularity can vary a lot between states? Allen is currently topping the baby name charts in Louisiana at position #293 - and is the least popular in Colorado at position #855.

Why care about state specific baby name charts? It could be that a name that is very popular on the national overall charts is less (or even more) popular where you live. So make sure you check out the state specific charts below and find out how popular or unique Allen is where you live.

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Allen origin and meaning

Celtic surname

Uncertain — a surname of Celtic origin, often linked to a word for 'handsome' or 'rock'

Allen is a surname turned first name, related to Alan, whose Celtic roots are genuinely disputed. It was a mid-century staple, peaking in 1951, and has been falling for decades.

Origin uncertain

Allen is a 5 letter name with 2 syllables.

To see famous people named Allen, pop culture references for the name Allen and nicknames & variations - visit Nameberry or Wikipedia.

Similar to Allen

We've found the following names that sound similar to Allen, sorted by popularity.

Alan / Allan / Alain / Alen / Alma / Allyn / Aylan / Alon / Alim / Aleem /

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Name statistics

Most parents-to-be know if they want a popular or unique name, and with these charts and data tables you can easily get a better understanding of how popular or unique this name is.

With a quick glance you can easily tell if this name is increasing or declining in popularity - But note that its current popularity can actually differ a lot from state to state.

Chart position per year (visualized)

Chart position per state (visualized)

Chart position per year (table view)

Chart position per state (table view)

Even more about Allen

These are some of the common questions you may want to have answered to know if this is the perfect name for your baby.

Is Allen a common or unique name?

By analyzing the number of births and frequency of this name we've determined that it's currently a very unique male name.

What is the number of syllables for the name Allen?

2 syllables. Why is this important? One of the things that makes a baby name sound good and have a nice rythm is the number of syllables - and especially the number of syllables along with the syllable count for your last name. A simple rule is to avoid having the same number of syllables in your first, middle and last name.

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Pronunciation

AL-un · /ˈælən/

Around the world

No traditional forms in other languages — this name was created in America in our own time.

Spellings and nicknames

• Alan — Related traditional name; a separate established name
• Allan — Spelling variant

Nicknames: Al

Famous bearers

• Allen Ginsberg — American Beat poet (1926–1997) Historical
• Allen Iverson — American basketball player (b. 1975) Contemporary

Style

ClassicSurname

Why parents choose it

Parents choosing Allen today are usually honouring family. It is solid and familiar, with a distinctly grandfatherly warmth right now.

Worth knowing

• Spelling splits between Allen, Allan, and Alan
• Reads as dated to its 1950s peak