Glen

Glen - A very unique male name

Glen appeared on the charts for the first time in 1910 on position #163. In this article you'll learn the history of this name, statistics, see famous people named Glen and more.
Are you having a baby or looking to learn more about the name Glen? 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 Glen. The baby boy name Glen was given to 24 baby boys in 2025, ranking #2273 on the national boy baby name top chart.


With that position 1 in 61,095 baby boys were given this name - making this a very unique male name according to our Popularity Score algorithm. Glen peaked in popularity 99 years ago in 1927 on position 113.

Famous with this name

How would you rate Glen, 1-5?

Glen is currently topping the charts in...

Did you know that popularity can vary a lot between states? Glen is currently topping the baby name charts in Indiana at position #995 - and is the least popular in California at position #2,293.

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 Glen is where you live.

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Glen origin and meaning

Scottish Gaelic / place name

From the Gaelic word for a valley, gleann; also a transferred place surname

Glen is a nature word and surname that became a mid-century American favourite, peaking in 1957. Its recent small rise from a very low base is relative — it remains rare.

Attested etymology

Glen is a 4 letter name with 1 syllables.

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

Similar to Glen

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

Glenn / Galen / Glynn / Gaylon / Glennon / Gaylen / Glyn / Giuliano / Gilman / Gleen /

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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 Glen

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 Glen 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 Glen?

1 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

GLEN · /ɡlɛn/

Around the world

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

Spellings and nicknames

• Glenn — The double-n spelling, historically more common

Famous bearers

• Glen Campbell — Country singer and guitarist known for 'Rhinestone Cowboy' (1936–2017) Contemporary

Style

NatureSurnameClassic

Why parents choose it

Glen feels outdoorsy and mid-century plain — a quiet vintage choice rather than a revival headline.

Worth knowing

• Glenn is the more familiar spelling; expect Glenn to be written first