Glen Boy

Popularity: #864 · Trend: ↘ Falling

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: glen /ɡlɛn/

Origin: Scottish; Irish

Meaning: Scottish: valley; Irish: glen

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Glen originates from the Gaelic word "gleann," which means "valley." This term has its roots in Old Irish, where it also referred to a narrow valley or a secluded area. The transition of the name into English occurred through the influence of Scottish and Irish culture, particularly during the medieval period when Gaelic names began to be adopted into English vernacular.

The term "glen" was used in various place names across Scotland and Ireland, reflecting the geographical features of these regions and contributing to the name's adoption as a personal name. Historically, the name Glen has been associated with various geographical locations, particularly in Scotland, where many valleys are named Glen followed by a specific descriptor, such as Glen Coe or Glen Feshie.

The use of the name in literature and poetry, especially during the Romantic period, further solidified its connection to nature and the picturesque landscapes of the British Isles. The name Glen appears in various historical texts and has been used by notable figures, although specific individuals are less documented compared to other names.

Culturally, the name Glen evokes imagery of natural beauty and tranquility, often symbolizing a connection to the earth and the pastoral life. It has been embraced in various forms of art and literature, reinforcing its significance as a name that embodies the essence of the valleys it describes.

While diminutive forms or variations are less common, the name Glen itself carries a strong association with the natural world, making it a lasting choice in the context of names derived from geographical features.

Famous people named Glen

In this section, you will find notable people named Glen. 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 Glen who have made a significant impact on popular culture.

We also feature individuals named Glen 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.

Glen Campbell is a singer and songwriter best known for Rhinestone Cowboy, Gentle on My Mind, and Wichita Lineman.

Glen Close is an actress best known for Fatal Attraction, Dangerous Liaisons, and The Wife.

Glen Hetrick is a special effects makeup artist best known for Face Off, The Hunger Games, and The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn.

Glen Mazzara is a television producer and writer best known for The Walking Dead, The Shield, and Damien.

Glen Powell is an actor best known for Top Gun: Maverick, Set It Up, and Scream Queens.

Fictional characters named Glen

The following list of fictional characters named Glen 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.

Glen Runciter is a fictional character from the novel Ubik by Philip K. Dick. He is the owner of Runciter Associates, a company that provides psychic services and is central to the story's exploration of reality and existence.

Sibling suggestions

If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Glen, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.

GrantGageGavinGrahamGideonGareth

Similar names

Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Glen. 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.

GlennaGlendaGlenysGlenfordGlenmoreGlennonGlenwood

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Glen was first seen in the United States in 1880.

Glen has ranked as high as #274 nationally, which occurred in 1957, and has been most popular in California, Texas, Illinois, Ohio, and New York.

In the past 5 years the name Glen has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Glen 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 Glen was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.

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 Glen.

Year Total Births Boy Girl
2025 74 74 0
2024 62 62 0
2023 57 57 0
2022 72 72 0
2021 86 86 0
2020 54 54 0
2019 74 74 0
2018 78 78 0
2017 99 99 0
2016 84 84 0
2015 94 94 0
2014 105 105 0
2013 102 102 0
2012 97 97 0
2011 118 118 0
2010 94 94 0
2009 119 119 0
2008 114 114 0
2007 131 131 0
2006 126 126 0
2005 129 129 0
2004 147 147 0
2003 166 166 0
2002 182 182 0
2001 194 194 0
2000 217 217 0
1999 204 204 0
1998 218 218 0
1997 237 237 0
1996 259 259 0
1995 301 301 0
1994 321 321 0
1993 337 337 0
1992 370 370 0
1991 416 416 0
1990 450 450 0
1989 480 480 0
1988 512 507 5
1987 505 505 0
1986 463 463 0
1985 517 510 7
1984 555 550 5
1983 527 527 0
1982 581 581 0
1981 615 609 6
1980 604 599 5
1979 586 586 0
1978 653 653 0
1977 667 667 0
1976 756 751 5
1975 808 808 0
1974 826 818 8
1973 873 867 6
1972 1,159 1,153 6
1971 1,545 1,534 11
1970 2,011 1,997 14
1969 2,255 2,241 14
1968 1,681 1,667 14
1967 1,719 1,710 9
1966 1,761 1,750 11
1965 2,081 2,068 13
1964 2,132 2,124 8
1963 2,369 2,357 12
1962 2,853 2,831 22
1961 2,702 2,686 16
1960 2,450 2,443 7
1959 2,713 2,693 20
1958 2,821 2,798 23
1957 2,947 2,924 23
1956 2,740 2,720 20
1955 2,515 2,490 25
1954 2,518 2,496 22
1953 2,404 2,389 15
1952 2,515 2,492 23
1951 2,241 2,220 21
1950 2,189 2,173 16
1949 2,224 2,203 21
1948 2,069 2,047 22
1947 2,080 2,070 10
1946 1,698 1,677 21
1945 1,414 1,395 19
1944 1,464 1,451 13
1943 1,456 1,445 11
1942 1,436 1,421 15
1941 1,424 1,410 14
1940 1,458 1,434 24
1939 1,447 1,428 19
1938 1,484 1,464 20
1937 1,380 1,357 23
1936 1,460 1,441 19
1935 1,420 1,396 24
1934 1,459 1,442 17
1933 1,360 1,335 25
1932 1,483 1,465 18
1931 1,591 1,563 28
1930 1,625 1,595 30
1929 1,456 1,427 29
1928 1,626 1,595 31
1927 1,653 1,617 36
1926 1,555 1,519 36
1925 1,563 1,537 26
1924 1,534 1,518 16
1923 1,477 1,450 27
1922 1,412 1,384 28
1921 1,528 1,506 22
1920 1,435 1,412 23
1919 1,411 1,389 22
1918 1,348 1,318 30
1917 1,257 1,235 22
1916 1,180 1,156 24
1915 1,132 1,112 20
1914 865 853 12
1913 615 606 9
1912 472 460 12
1911 236 231 5
1910 184 184 0
1909 186 178 8
1908 158 158 0
1907 155 150 5
1906 131 120 11
1905 134 128 6
1904 127 120 7
1903 128 121 7
1902 123 123 0
1901 110 105 5
1900 140 134 6
1899 101 101 0
1898 118 111 7
1897 94 88 6
1896 120 113 7
1895 102 102 0
1894 114 108 6
1893 77 77 0
1892 112 106 6
1891 85 85 0
1890 74 68 6
1889 58 58 0
1888 82 77 5
1887 57 52 5
1886 49 49 0
1885 50 45 5
1884 52 47 5
1883 27 27 0
1882 27 27 0
1881 31 31 0
1880 24 24 0

Top States for Glen (2024)

We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.

State Births Share
CA 6
55%
FL 5
45%