Cullen Boy
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: KUL-en //ˈkʌl.ən//
Origin: Irish; English
Meaning: Irish: 'cub'; English: 'descendant of the hound
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Cullen has its roots in the Gaelic language, specifically deriving from the Irish surname "Ó Cuileann," which means "descendant of Cuileann." The name Cuileann itself is believed to be derived from the word "cuileann," referring to a holly tree, which holds significance in Celtic culture. The transition of Cullen into English occurred through the anglicization of Irish surnames, particularly during the 17th and 18th centuries as English became more dominant in Ireland and among Irish emigrants.
Historically, the name Cullen has been associated with various notable figures, particularly in Ireland. One significant milestone is the presence of the name in the annals of Irish history, where members of the Ó Cuileann clan were documented as early as the medieval period.
The name has also appeared in various historical texts and genealogies, contributing to its recognition in Irish heritage. Additionally, the name Cullen can be found in early Irish literature and folklore, where it may have been linked to local legends and stories.
Culturally, the name Cullen resonates with themes of nature and strength, reflecting the characteristics of the holly tree from which it derives. The holly tree is often associated with protection and resilience in Celtic symbolism.
This connection to nature has helped the name endure through generations, as it embodies qualities that are valued in various cultures. While diminutive forms such as "Cully" may arise in informal contexts, the name Cullen itself has maintained a distinct identity throughout its history, representing a blend of linguistic heritage and cultural significance.
Famous people named Cullen
In this section, you will find notable people named Cullen. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Cullen who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Cullen who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.
Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.
Cullen Bunn is a comic book writer best known for The Sixth Gun, Harrow County, and Deadpool.
Fictional characters named Cullen
The following list of fictional characters named Cullen is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.
You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.
Cullen Bohannon is a fictional character from the TV series Hell on Wheels. He is a former Confederate soldier seeking revenge while working on the construction of the First Transcontinental Railroad.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Cullen, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.
Similar names
Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Cullen. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Cullen was first seen in the United States in 1880.
Cullen has ranked as high as #739 nationally, which occurred in 2010, and has been most popular in Texas, Louisiana, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, and California.
In the past 5 years the name Cullen has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Cullen is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Cullen was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Cullen (2024)
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. In some cases, you may see four or five states listed. However, we only display states where the name represents a significant percentage of births, so the number of states shown can range from one to several.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| MN | 14 | |
| TX | 13 | |
| FL | 11 | |
| PA | 11 | |
| TN | 11 | |
| MS | 10 | |
| GA | 10 | |
| AL | 8 | |
| SC | 8 | |
| LA | 8 | |
| MA | 8 | |
| NY | 7 | |
| CA | 6 | |
| MI | 5 |
Popularity Over Time (National) — Table
We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Cullen.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 187 |
| 2023 | 219 |
| 2022 | 258 |
| 2021 | 342 |
| 2020 | 370 |
| 2019 | 411 |
| 2018 | 464 |
| 2017 | 556 |
| 2016 | 529 |
| 2015 | 492 |
| 2014 | 447 |
| 2013 | 447 |
| 2012 | 473 |
| 2011 | 568 |
| 2010 | 679 |
| 2009 | 562 |
| 2008 | 283 |
| 2007 | 286 |
| 2006 | 260 |
| 2005 | 278 |
| 2004 | 270 |
| 2003 | 284 |
| 2002 | 318 |
| 2001 | 336 |
| 2000 | 363 |
| 1999 | 353 |
| 1998 | 374 |
| 1997 | 405 |
| 1996 | 392 |
| 1995 | 400 |
| 1994 | 301 |
| 1993 | 337 |
| 1992 | 293 |
| 1991 | 198 |
| 1990 | 166 |
| 1989 | 177 |
| 1988 | 162 |
| 1987 | 146 |
| 1986 | 122 |
| 1985 | 100 |
| 1984 | 90 |
| 1983 | 97 |
| 1982 | 89 |
| 1981 | 102 |
| 1980 | 98 |
| 1979 | 99 |
| 1978 | 77 |
| 1977 | 57 |
| 1976 | 72 |
| 1975 | 58 |
| 1974 | 77 |
| 1973 | 56 |
| 1972 | 36 |
| 1971 | 53 |
| 1970 | 62 |
| 1969 | 50 |
| 1968 | 39 |
| 1967 | 26 |
| 1966 | 27 |
| 1965 | 21 |
| 1964 | 33 |
| 1963 | 23 |
| 1962 | 31 |
| 1961 | 34 |
| 1960 | 39 |
| 1959 | 37 |
| 1958 | 24 |
| 1957 | 27 |
| 1956 | 33 |
| 1955 | 28 |
| 1954 | 22 |
| 1953 | 22 |
| 1952 | 17 |
| 1951 | 23 |
| 1950 | 17 |
| 1949 | 20 |
| 1948 | 23 |
| 1947 | 24 |
| 1946 | 24 |
| 1945 | 19 |
| 1944 | 17 |
| 1943 | 34 |
| 1942 | 19 |
| 1941 | 31 |
| 1940 | 20 |
| 1939 | 21 |
| 1938 | 22 |
| 1937 | 20 |
| 1936 | 12 |
| 1935 | 28 |
| 1934 | 24 |
| 1933 | 28 |
| 1932 | 20 |
| 1931 | 25 |
| 1930 | 26 |
| 1929 | 21 |
| 1928 | 28 |
| 1927 | 32 |
| 1926 | 34 |
| 1925 | 37 |
| 1924 | 29 |
| 1923 | 21 |
| 1922 | 39 |
| 1921 | 42 |
| 1920 | 25 |
| 1919 | 29 |
| 1918 | 34 |
| 1917 | 28 |
| 1916 | 30 |
| 1915 | 35 |
| 1914 | 27 |
| 1913 | 21 |
| 1912 | 17 |
| 1911 | 12 |
| 1910 | 10 |
| 1907 | 8 |
| 1905 | 9 |
| 1904 | 5 |
| 1903 | 6 |
| 1901 | 5 |
| 1899 | 5 |
| 1896 | 5 |
| 1895 | 7 |
| 1894 | 7 |
| 1891 | 5 |
| 1887 | 5 |
| 1883 | 6 |
| 1880 | 9 |