Declining since 1985, #2,020 for boys today.
Popularity of Glen since 1880
Babies named Glen per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1957, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Glen's real moment was 1931.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 437 |
| 1890s | 959 |
| 1900s | 1,337 |
| 1910s | 8,544 |
| 1920s | 14,965 |
| 1930s | 14,486 |
| 1940s | 16,553 |
| 1950s | 25,395 |
| 1960s | 21,877 |
| 1970s | 9,834 |
| 1980s | 5,331 |
| 1990s | 3,113 |
| 2000s | 1,525 |
| 2010s | 945 |
| 2020s | 405 |
Meaning & origin
Glen is a classic topographic name meaning 'valley', rooted in Scottish and Irish Gaelic. It peaked in popularity in 1931, when it ranked among the top 200 names for boys, and was especially common in states like Indiana, Ohio, and Texas. Since 1985, its usage has steadily declined, reflecting a broader shift away from short, simple nature names. In 2020, the name ranked #2020 with an estimated 1 in 23,082 male births, a far cry from its mid-century heyday. Today, Glen retains a quiet, traditional feel, often associated with the landscapes of Scotland and Ireland.
Glen derives from Scottish Gaelic 'gleann' and Irish 'gleann', meaning 'valley'. It entered English as a topographic surname and later a given name, popular in Scotland and Ireland. The name gained broader use in the English-speaking world in the 19th and early 20th centuries.
Where Glen is most popular
Births per 100,000 boys by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Glen” around the world
Where Glen lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
5
babies in 2024
Ireland
4
babies in 2025
Sources: INSEE (France) · CSO Ireland (Ireland).
Nicknames & variants
Variants: Glenn
Sibling names for Glen
Names that share Glen's style, for a brother or sister.
Sisters: Heather, Fiona, Maeve, Lynn, Sheila, Arleen, Nadene, Earlean, Earleen, Joline, Raylene, Dene, Gaila, Glena, Glendy, Glenice, Laural, Orlene, Vonna, Aldene, Glenora, Jearlene, Norlene, Ralene, Shere, Sherl, Vonceil, Daleen, Gelene, Jolleen, Melonee, Merleen, Roseland, Suprena
Brothers: Keith, Craig, Neil, Bruce, Gordon, Dale, Lee, Chet, Curt, Forest, Monte, Arlan, Faron, Gaylon, Shad, Glendell, Kem, Lang, Marsh, Birl, Dorn, Lynnwood, Shadd, Denman, Duwane, Field, Glendel
Names like Glen
Names whose popularity has moved with Glen's over the last 50 years.
