Jalen
Boy name · #443 in 2025 · Uniqueness 43/100
In 2025, 711 baby boys were named Jalen, placing it at #443 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #590, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 2,532 boys born in 2025 was named Jalen.
Babies named Jalen per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
The 49-year story
Jalen first appears in the Social Security records in 1976, when 5 boys received the name. Its peak came in 2000, when 3,513 boys were named Jalen — good for #106 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. 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 Jalen against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Jalen in class?
Jalen scores 43 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "distinctive" band. That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Jalen is most common
Geography matters for names, and Jalen is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Jalens were CA (84), TX (62), FL (57), NY (56), PA (51). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Jalen
Statistically, parents drawn to Jalen tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Jaylen, Jaden, Dalton, Javon, and Devin.
JaylenJadenDaltonJavonDevinJakeCollinDonovan
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Jalen | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 711 | #442 |
| 2024 | 661 | #467 |
| 2023 | 726 | #429 |
| 2022 | 571 | #519 |
| 2021 | 568 | #516 |
| 2020 | 520 | #547 |
| 2019 | 539 | #531 |
| 2018 | 504 | #551 |
| 2017 | 451 | #599 |
| 2016 | 482 | #575 |
| 2015 | 468 | #590 |
| 2014 | 487 | #572 |
| 2013 | 544 | #501 |
| 2012 | 581 | #470 |
| 2011 | 707 | #401 |
| 2010 | 720 | #394 |
| 2009 | 850 | #361 |
| 2008 | 1,054 | #316 |
| 2007 | 1,282 | #268 |
| 2006 | 1,591 | #228 |
| 2005 | 1,708 | #212 |
| 2004 | 2,022 | #190 |
| 2003 | 2,620 | #155 |
| 2002 | 2,686 | #145 |
| 2001 | 3,121 | #127 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Jalen a popular boy name?
Jalen ranked #443 among boys in 2025 with 711 babies given the name — inside the top 500: established but not ubiquitous. Ten years earlier it ranked #590.
When was the name Jalen most popular?
Jalen peaked in 2000, when 3,513 American boys received the name (ranked #106 that year). Since 2000 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Jalen?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 2,532 newborn American boys was named Jalen. It scores 43/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "distinctive".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.