Glen
Boy name · #2021 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Glen? In official American birth records, Glen has been tracked continuously since 1880, giving it 145 years of documented American history.
Glen ranks #2021 among American boys' names as of 2025, with 74 newborns given the name that year. A decade ago it stood at #1668, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 24,324 boys born in 2025 was named Glen.
Babies named Glen per year. Source: Official national birth records.
The 145-year story
Glen first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 24 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1957, when 2,924 boys were named Glen — good for #129 that year. Today's parents encounter it as a name from their grandparents’ generation, which is precisely the vintage window from which names get revived. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Glen against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Glen in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Glen is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Glen will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Glen is most common
State-level data for Glen is too sparse in 2025 to rank by rate — in most states its count falls below the SSA's per-state reporting threshold (counts under 5 are withheld).
Names like Glen
Statistically, parents drawn to Glen tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Glenn, Loren, Dan, Guy, and Ken.
GlennLorenDanGuyKenDarenAllenDon
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Glen | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 74 | #2020 |
| 2024 | 62 | #2288 |
| 2023 | 57 | #2387 |
| 2022 | 72 | #2083 |
| 2021 | 86 | #1815 |
| 2020 | 54 | #2419 |
| 2019 | 74 | #1974 |
| 2018 | 78 | #1901 |
| 2017 | 99 | #1612 |
| 2016 | 84 | #1799 |
| 2015 | 94 | #1668 |
| 2014 | 105 | #1526 |
| 2013 | 102 | #1546 |
| 2012 | 97 | #1602 |
| 2011 | 118 | #1404 |
| 2010 | 94 | #1652 |
| 2009 | 119 | #1413 |
| 2008 | 114 | #1445 |
| 2007 | 131 | #1311 |
| 2006 | 126 | #1306 |
| 2005 | 129 | #1225 |
| 2004 | 147 | #1080 |
| 2003 | 166 | #969 |
| 2002 | 182 | #891 |
| 2001 | 194 | #837 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Glen?
In official American birth records, the name Glen first appeared in 1880 (over 145 years ago), when 24 newborn boys received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Glen a popular boy name?
Glen ranked #2021 among boys in 2025 with 74 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #1668.
When was the name Glen most popular?
Glen peaked in 1957, when 2,924 American boys received the name (ranked #129 that year). Since 1957 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Glen?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 24,324 newborn American boys was named Glen. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "very rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.