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Allen

Boy

Meaning of Allen: Celtic: 'handsome' or 'cheerful'

Allen is a boy's name most strongly associated with Irish naming. It has 5 letters and 2 syllables, and it is a timeless pick that has stayed popular for over a century — 585th most popular boys' name in the United States in 2025 and 4270th in England & Wales.

US rank 2025

#585

507 babies in 2025

England & Wales 2024

#4270

4 babies in 2024

US babies since 1880

273,662

First recorded 1880 · peak 1951

Trend

falling

Style: classic

Popularity over time

1981: 2,080 babies1982: 2,238 babies1983: 2,266 babies1984: 2,142 babies1985: 2,208 babies1986: 2,152 babies1987: 2,189 babies1988: 2,218 babies1989: 2,374 babies1990: 2,235 babies19901991: 2,122 babies1992: 1,931 babies1993: 1,913 babies1994: 1,759 babies1995: 1,561 babies1996: 1,473 babies1997: 1,415 babies1998: 1,316 babies1999: 1,320 babies2000: 1,359 babies20002001: 1,396 babies2002: 1,390 babies2003: 1,318 babies2004: 1,311 babies2005: 1,236 babies2006: 1,229 babies2007: 1,198 babies2008: 1,148 babies2009: 1,039 babies2010: 983 babies20102011: 1,010 babies2012: 964 babies2013: 924 babies2014: 865 babies2015: 976 babies2016: 901 babies2017: 791 babies2018: 741 babies2019: 709 babies2020: 649 babies20202021: 559 babies2022: 529 babies2023: 573 babies2024: 502 babies2025: 507 babies
US babies named Allen per year (Social Security Administration). Peak bar = 2,374.

Gender split

99% boys · 1% girls, based on US, UK and international usage.

Origins & cultures

More Irish boys' names

Other names starting with A