Where does the name Glen come from?

Glen is a boy name of Scottish origin.

Is Glen a boy or a girl name?

Glen is used for both. In U.S. Social Security records, about 1% of children given the name Glen are girls and 99% are boys.

How popular is the name Glen in 2023?

Glen ranks #2400 for boys in the U.S. Social Security Administration's 2023 dataset. Its all-time U.S. peak was 1957 with 2,947 babies.

How do you pronounce Glen?

Glen is pronounced GLEN (1 syllable).

What are common spellings of Glen?

Glen is also written as Glenn, Glyn, Glenne.

A name from Scottish · Boy

Glen

From Scottish Gaelic gleann meaning 'narrow valley'. Originally a surname for someone who lived in a glen; adopted as a given name in 19th-century Scotland and America.

Compare

Popularity over time

A 143-year arc in numbers.

125,570 U.S. births recorded from 1880–2023.

Popularity · 1880–2023

57 births in 2023

1880 1951 2023

Babies named per year Peak year Most recent

Meaning

A name that means something.

GFrom Scottish Gaelic gleann meaning 'narrow valley'. Originally a surname for someone who lived in a glen; adopted as a given name in 19th-century Scotland and America.

Variants & spellings

3 ways to spell "Glen".

Each transliteration carries a slightly different cultural fingerprint.

Glenn Most common Glyn Glenne

Famous bearers

People who carry the name Glen.

G
Glen Campbell (country singer)
G
John Glenn (astronaut and senator; variant Glenn)
G
Glenn Close (actress; surname)

Quick answers

People often ask about Glen.

What does the name Glen mean?: Glen means from Scottish Gaelic gleann meaning 'narrow valley'. Originally a surname for someone who lived in a glen; adopted as a given name in 19th-century Scotland and America.
Where does the name Glen come from?: Glen is a boy name of Scottish origin.
Is Glen a boy or a girl name?: Glen is used for both. In U.S. Social Security records, about 1% of children given the name Glen are girls and 99% are boys.
How popular is the name Glen in 2023?: Glen ranks #2400 for boys in the U.S. Social Security Administration's 2023 dataset. Its all-time U.S. peak was 1957 with 2,947 babies.
How do you pronounce Glen?: Glen is pronounced GLEN (1 syllable).
What are common spellings of Glen?: Glen is also written as Glenn, Glyn, Glenne.

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About this page

Popularity counts come from the U.S. Social Security Administration's national dataset. Meanings and origins are curated from etymological sources. If you spot an error, please let us know.