Allen
Allen was the 578th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 507 babies. Its best year was 1940, when it ranked 71st; the most babies were born in 1951 (5,179). Over the last ten years it has moved down 229 places. More babies were named Allen in the 1950s than in any other decade.
Meaning (as Alan) Origin uncertain · Breton, Celtic
- Rank in 2025
- #578 boys, down 115 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 507boys
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a boy’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 19515,179 babies
- Total since 1880
- 273,662babies recorded
What does the name Allen mean?
Allen is a spelling of Alan, pronounced the same way, so it shares Alan's meaning and origin.
Alan is a Breton name brought to England by Normans after 1066. Its origin is uncertain. DMNES thinks the most likely source is an Old Breton or Old Welsh word meaning 'deer'; Wiktionary adds proposals such as a Celtic deity name and an early Irish word for 'noble', and Wikipedia says there is no clear consensus. DMNES notes it reached Scotland from England, and medieval English forms like Alayn survive in surnames. Allan and Allen are common variants.
alan (Old Breton, “deer (DMNES's most likely view)”)
How sure is this? Uncertain. Sources disagree; 'deer' (DMNES) is one proposal among several.
Other explanations you may read: Means 'handsome' or 'harmony'.
Related names: Allan, Allen, Alain, Alun, Alanna.
See also: Celtic names.
Sources for this meaning
- Dictionary of Medieval Names from European Sources, ed. S. L. Uckelman, Edition 2023 no. 1, s.v. 'Alan', Durham University / The DMNES Editors
- Wiktionary, entry 'Alan', Wiktionary (Wikimedia Foundation); facts restated, no text reused
- Wikipedia, 'Alan (given name)', Wikipedia (Wikimedia Foundation); facts restated, no text reused
Allen popularity since 1880
A few girls are given the name too: 1,866 since 1896.
| Year | Rank (boys) | Babies (boys) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #578 | 507 |
| 2020 | #463 | 638 |
| 2010 | #322 | 975 |
| 2000 | #249 | 1,351 |
| 1990 | #141 | 2,220 |
| 1980 | #124 | 2,210 |
| 1970 | #113 | 2,933 |
| 1960 | #99 | 4,371 |
| 1950 | #71 | 4,840 |
| 1940 | #71 | 3,029 |
| 1930 | #85 | 2,278 |
| 1920 | #94 | 1,866 |
| 1910 | #92 | 355 |
| 1900 | #104 | 223 |
| 1890 | #90 | 189 |
| 1880 | #82 | 184 |
How popular is Allen, counting every spelling?
Allen is a spelling of Alan, a name family that ranked #142 for boys in 2025 once every spelling is counted together, compared with #578 for Allen on its own. Together these spellings went to 2,688 boys in 2025.
| Spelling | Babies 2025 | Official rank | Babies 2021–2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alan | 1,915 | #191 | 10,204 |
| Allen | 507 | #578 | 2,670 |
| Allan | 223 | #1,013 | 1,392 |
| Alen | 36 | #3,244 | 216 |
| Alann | 7 | #9,760 | 26 |
Spellings count together when they sound the same in American English and are used for the same sex; nicknames and forms that sound different (such as Theo and Theodore) are kept apart. How we group spellings.
How many kids will share the name Allen?
507 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Allen (0.14 per 1,000 births). For a boy named Allen born in 2025, the chance that another child with the same name is in a class of 20 children the same age is under 1 in 50. If every grade liked the name as much as the 2025 babies do, only about one elementary school in 17 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Allen.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Allen?
About 162,500 people born in the US named Allen are alive today, with a median age of 57; half are between 36 and 70. That makes Allen a name most people associate with older generations.
Babies given the name each year (SSA) times the share of that birth year still alive (SSA life tables). Counts people born in the US only. Method.
Allen by state
How common Allen was among boys born in each state in 2021–2025. It is notably more common than nationally in Louisiana (2.1×), Pennsylvania (1.9×), Mississippi (1.6×). It is least common, relative to the national rate, in Nevada, Idaho, New Mexico.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Allen: their share of US boys followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Allen, they share its era and feel.
Questions about the name Allen
What does Allen mean?
The origin of Alan is uncertain: sources disagree; 'deer' (DMNES) is one proposal among several.
How popular is the name Allen?
Allen was the 578th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 507 babies. Its best year was 1940, when it ranked 71st; the most babies were born in 1951 (5,179). Over the last ten years it has moved down 229 places. More babies were named Allen in the 1950s than in any other decade.
Is Allen a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a boy’s name given the name Allen in the US.
Where is Allen most popular?
In 2021–2025, Allen was most common in Louisiana (0.64 per 1,000 boys), followed by Pennsylvania and Mississippi.