Fun Facts About the Name Allen
- A favorite of earlier generations: Allen appeared in the U.S. top 100 in 7 separate runs, totaling 83 years. Its last run lasted 49 consecutive years, from 1920 through 1968.
- More than 273 thousand babies named Allen: U.S. records list 273,655 babies given the name Allen from 1880 through 2025. Even 1,866 girls received the name Allen - about 1 girl for every 146 boys.
What Does the Name Allen Mean?
Allen is an English given name of Celtic origin, though its precise meaning is uncertain. It is a variant of Alan (also Allan), a name recorded in Latin as Alanus and in Breton as Alan. The original Breton name may derive from a Celtic root meaning "rock" or "handsome," but no single derivation is securely established. Another proposed explanation connects Alan with the Alans, an Iranian nomadic people called Alani in Latin, but this link is disputed. Traditional name lists sometimes gloss Alan and Allen as "handsome" or "cheerful"; those are customary interpretations rather than a certain literal translation. The name is not related to the English word "all" or to unrelated surnames that happen to be spelled Allen.
Allen Name History & Origins
The name Allen derives from the older personal name Alan, which was common in Brittany. Its early recorded forms include Latin Alanus and Old Breton Alan. A Saint Alan is associated with Quimper in Brittany, and the name was carried to England by Bretons after the Norman Conquest of 1066. Alan Rufus, a Breton noble who fought at Hastings, became Earl of Richmond and is one documented bearer. In medieval England the name appeared as Alan, Alain, and Alein.
The English surname Allen grew out of the personal name Alan, following the common pattern of forming a family name from a father's given name. Spellings such as Allen and Allan became widespread. In Ireland and the Scottish Highlands, Allen can also be an anglicized form of Gaelic names like Ó hAilín and Mac Ailín, which are separate in origin from the Breton-Norman Alan. As a first name, Allen has been used since the Middle Ages as a variant of Alan and Allan, and it also entered wider use as a given name from the surname Allen.
How Popular is the Name Allen?
Allen has a rich multi-era history in the U.S. top 100, spanning 83 total years and enjoying its modern revival from 1920 to 1968.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | #8,975 | 11 | 0.0007% |
| 2019 | #12,517 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2016 | #14,439 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2014 | #16,659 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2013 | #13,242 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2012 | #17,028 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2011 | #16,916 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2010 | #12,338 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 2008 | #11,654 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2005 | #16,612 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2004 | #11,679 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 2002 | #13,684 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2001 | #12,140 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2000 | #10,784 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1999 | #14,508 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1997 | #10,899 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1996 | #13,617 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1995 | #7,542 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1994 | #7,119 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1993 | #6,630 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1992 | #7,076 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1991 | #6,266 | 14 | 0.0007% |
| 1990 | #5,843 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 1989 | #6,550 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1988 | #7,128 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1987 | #4,666 | 17 | 0.0010% |
| 1986 | #2,905 | 32 | 0.0019% |
| 1985 | #3,857 | 21 | 0.0012% |
| 1984 | #3,728 | 21 | 0.0012% |
| 1983 | #3,951 | 19 | 0.0011% |
| 1982 | #3,651 | 22 | 0.0013% |
| 1981 | #4,011 | 19 | 0.0011% |
| 1980 | #4,329 | 17 | 0.0010% |
| 1979 | #4,234 | 17 | 0.0011% |
| 1978 | #6,399 | 9 | 0.0006% |
| 1977 | #3,178 | 24 | 0.0016% |
| 1976 | #3,680 | 18 | 0.0012% |
| 1975 | #4,863 | 12 | 0.0008% |
| 1974 | #4,464 | 13 | 0.0009% |
| 1973 | #3,977 | 15 | 0.0010% |
| 1972 | #5,969 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1971 | #3,947 | 15 | 0.0009% |
| 1970 | #3,114 | 21 | 0.0012% |
| 1969 | #2,646 | 25 | 0.0015% |
| 1968 | #3,062 | 18 | 0.0011% |
| 1967 | #2,493 | 24 | 0.0015% |
| 1966 | #2,357 | 26 | 0.0015% |
| 1965 | #2,837 | 19 | 0.0011% |
| 1964 | #2,600 | 23 | 0.0012% |
| 1963 | #3,067 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 1962 | #2,358 | 26 | 0.0013% |
| 1961 | #2,359 | 26 | 0.0013% |
| 1960 | #2,736 | 20 | 0.0010% |
| 1959 | #2,870 | 17 | 0.0008% |
| 1958 | #2,323 | 24 | 0.0012% |
| 1957 | #3,314 | 13 | 0.0006% |
| 1956 | #2,105 | 27 | 0.0013% |
| 1955 | #2,156 | 25 | 0.0013% |
| 1954 | #2,296 | 22 | 0.0011% |
| 1953 | #2,364 | 20 | 0.0011% |
| 1952 | #2,813 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 1951 | #2,017 | 24 | 0.0013% |
| 1950 | #2,255 | 19 | 0.0011% |
| 1949 | #2,136 | 21 | 0.0012% |
| 1948 | #1,902 | 25 | 0.0015% |
| 1947 | #1,993 | 24 | 0.0014% |
| 1946 | #2,395 | 16 | 0.0010% |
| 1945 | #1,994 | 18 | 0.0014% |
| 1944 | #2,512 | 13 | 0.0010% |
| 1943 | #1,527 | 30 | 0.0022% |
| 1942 | #1,413 | 33 | 0.0024% |
| 1941 | #1,752 | 21 | 0.0017% |
| 1940 | #2,032 | 16 | 0.0014% |
| 1939 | #1,424 | 27 | 0.0025% |
| 1938 | #1,807 | 19 | 0.0017% |
| 1937 | #2,319 | 13 | 0.0012% |
| 1936 | #2,523 | 11 | 0.0011% |
| 1935 | #1,720 | 20 | 0.0019% |
| 1934 | #2,005 | 16 | 0.0015% |
| 1933 | #1,553 | 23 | 0.0023% |
| 1932 | #1,450 | 27 | 0.0025% |
| 1931 | #1,503 | 25 | 0.0023% |
| 1930 | #1,404 | 30 | 0.0027% |
| 1929 | #1,447 | 28 | 0.0025% |
| 1928 | #1,639 | 25 | 0.0022% |
| 1927 | #1,488 | 30 | 0.0025% |
| 1926 | #1,934 | 20 | 0.0017% |
| 1925 | #1,325 | 36 | 0.0030% |
| 1924 | #1,724 | 25 | 0.0020% |
| 1923 | #2,370 | 15 | 0.0012% |
| 1922 | #1,405 | 33 | 0.0027% |
| 1921 | #1,766 | 24 | 0.0019% |
| 1920 | #2,016 | 19 | 0.0016% |
| 1919 | #1,921 | 19 | 0.0017% |
| 1918 | #1,754 | 22 | 0.0019% |
| 1917 | #1,509 | 25 | 0.0023% |
| 1916 | #2,502 | 12 | 0.0011% |
| 1915 | #1,440 | 25 | 0.0025% |
| 1914 | #1,232 | 25 | 0.0033% |
| 1913 | #1,533 | 15 | 0.0024% |
| 1912 | #1,542 | 13 | 0.0023% |
| 1911 | #1,375 | 12 | 0.0029% |
| 1910 | #1,638 | 9 | 0.0023% |
| 1909 | #1,964 | 6 | 0.0017% |
| 1908 | #2,107 | 5 | 0.0015% |
| 1907 | #1,515 | 8 | 0.0025% |
| 1903 | #1,800 | 5 | 0.0019% |
| 1900 | #1,437 | 8 | 0.0027% |
| 1898 | #1,706 | 5 | 0.0019% |
| 1896 | #1,421 | 6 | 0.0025% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #578 | 507 | 0.0297% |
| 2024 | #573 | 497 | 0.0290% |
| 2023 | #516 | 572 | 0.0335% |
| 2022 | #561 | 529 | 0.0303% |
| 2021 | #525 | 558 | 0.0319% |
| 2020 | #463 | 637 | 0.0369% |
| 2019 | #436 | 702 | 0.0391% |
| 2018 | #421 | 741 | 0.0408% |
| 2017 | #403 | 790 | 0.0427% |
| 2016 | #370 | 895 | 0.0472% |
| 2015 | #350 | 975 | 0.0509% |
| 2014 | #367 | 859 | 0.0447% |
| 2013 | #348 | 917 | 0.0485% |
| 2012 | #330 | 958 | 0.0505% |
| 2011 | #317 | 1,005 | 0.0529% |
| 2010 | #322 | 974 | 0.0508% |
| 2009 | #310 | 1,038 | 0.0523% |
| 2008 | #293 | 1,139 | 0.0558% |
| 2007 | #287 | 1,197 | 0.0577% |
| 2006 | #283 | 1,229 | 0.0598% |
| 2005 | #270 | 1,231 | 0.0616% |
| 2004 | #255 | 1,301 | 0.0655% |
| 2003 | #250 | 1,318 | 0.0667% |
| 2002 | #246 | 1,384 | 0.0713% |
| 2001 | #243 | 1,389 | 0.0715% |
| 2000 | #250 | 1,350 | 0.0687% |
| 1999 | #244 | 1,315 | 0.0685% |
| 1998 | #239 | 1,316 | 0.0689% |
| 1997 | #218 | 1,408 | 0.0747% |
| 1996 | #212 | 1,468 | 0.0775% |
| 1995 | #197 | 1,550 | 0.0814% |
| 1994 | #179 | 1,748 | 0.0905% |
| 1993 | #168 | 1,900 | 0.0969% |
| 1992 | #165 | 1,919 | 0.0961% |
| 1991 | #154 | 2,108 | 0.1043% |
| 1990 | #141 | 2,220 | 0.1081% |
| 1989 | #130 | 2,360 | 0.1179% |
| 1988 | #134 | 2,209 | 0.1154% |
| 1987 | #128 | 2,172 | 0.1163% |
| 1986 | #128 | 2,120 | 0.1151% |
| 1985 | #128 | 2,187 | 0.1183% |
| 1984 | #128 | 2,123 | 0.1176% |
| 1983 | #120 | 2,247 | 0.1253% |
| 1982 | #122 | 2,218 | 0.1222% |
| 1981 | #131 | 2,063 | 0.1152% |
| 1980 | #124 | 2,211 | 0.1239% |
| 1979 | #139 | 1,938 | 0.1126% |
| 1978 | #144 | 1,828 | 0.1113% |
| 1977 | #144 | 1,819 | 0.1107% |
| 1976 | #134 | 1,968 | 0.1254% |
| 1975 | #126 | 2,034 | 0.1303% |
| 1974 | #125 | 2,102 | 0.1337% |
| 1973 | #124 | 2,077 | 0.1333% |
| 1972 | #123 | 2,303 | 0.1420% |
| 1971 | #120 | 2,671 | 0.1510% |
| 1970 | #113 | 2,932 | 0.1578% |
| 1969 | #111 | 2,885 | 0.1613% |
| 1968 | #100 | 2,964 | 0.1705% |
| 1967 | #100 | 3,123 | 0.1791% |
| 1966 | #97 | 3,420 | 0.1918% |
| 1965 | #92 | 3,836 | 0.2062% |
| 1964 | #93 | 4,098 | 0.2056% |
| 1963 | #90 | 4,339 | 0.2137% |
| 1962 | #93 | 4,270 | 0.2064% |
| 1961 | #96 | 4,388 | 0.2066% |
| 1960 | #98 | 4,372 | 0.2051% |
| 1959 | #97 | 4,367 | 0.2046% |
| 1958 | #92 | 4,525 | 0.2132% |
| 1957 | #91 | 4,413 | 0.2046% |
| 1956 | #87 | 4,611 | 0.2180% |
| 1955 | #84 | 4,742 | 0.2302% |
| 1954 | #82 | 4,831 | 0.2370% |
| 1953 | #81 | 4,856 | 0.2462% |
| 1952 | #78 | 4,956 | 0.2550% |
| 1951 | #72 | 5,179 | 0.2751% |
| 1950 | #71 | 4,841 | 0.2704% |
| 1949 | #71 | 4,735 | 0.2669% |
| 1948 | #72 | 4,755 | 0.2710% |
| 1947 | #73 | 5,075 | 0.2774% |
| 1946 | #74 | 4,294 | 0.2644% |
| 1945 | #74 | 3,481 | 0.2587% |
| 1944 | #77 | 3,422 | 0.2511% |
| 1943 | #76 | 3,626 | 0.2541% |
| 1942 | #71 | 3,571 | 0.2586% |
| 1941 | #73 | 3,060 | 0.2491% |
| 1940 | #71 | 3,028 | 0.2612% |
| 1939 | #72 | 2,929 | 0.2646% |
| 1938 | #73 | 2,834 | 0.2555% |
| 1937 | #76 | 2,518 | 0.2361% |
| 1936 | #81 | 2,314 | 0.2231% |
| 1935 | #83 | 2,312 | 0.2220% |
| 1934 | #88 | 2,241 | 0.2170% |
| 1933 | #84 | 2,204 | 0.2223% |
| 1932 | #80 | 2,419 | 0.2317% |
| 1931 | #79 | 2,308 | 0.2220% |
| 1930 | #85 | 2,278 | 0.2076% |
| 1929 | #86 | 2,189 | 0.2035% |
| 1928 | #93 | 2,136 | 0.1928% |
| 1927 | #95 | 2,102 | 0.1865% |
| 1926 | #93 | 2,021 | 0.1820% |
| 1925 | #94 | 2,034 | 0.1823% |
| 1924 | #94 | 2,045 | 0.1805% |
| 1923 | #97 | 1,875 | 0.1711% |
| 1922 | #95 | 1,887 | 0.1734% |
| 1921 | #94 | 1,937 | 0.1759% |
| 1920 | #94 | 1,866 | 0.1753% |
| 1919 | #101 | 1,653 | 0.1687% |
| 1918 | #98 | 1,779 | 0.1755% |
| 1917 | #100 | 1,592 | 0.1720% |
| 1916 | #101 | 1,572 | 0.1766% |
| 1915 | #99 | 1,458 | 0.1718% |
| 1914 | #105 | 1,049 | 0.1602% |
| 1913 | #100 | 903 | 0.1762% |
| 1912 | #103 | 730 | 0.1698% |
| 1911 | #98 | 402 | 0.1779% |
| 1910 | #92 | 355 | 0.1828% |
| 1909 | #93 | 312 | 0.1902% |
| 1908 | #92 | 287 | 0.1860% |
| 1907 | #85 | 309 | 0.2105% |
| 1906 | #84 | 282 | 0.2118% |
| 1905 | #88 | 272 | 0.2056% |
| 1904 | #96 | 228 | 0.1780% |
| 1903 | #91 | 219 | 0.1837% |
| 1902 | #89 | 227 | 0.1851% |
| 1901 | #88 | 199 | 0.1869% |
| 1900 | #104 | 223 | 0.1482% |
| 1899 | #91 | 191 | 0.1798% |
| 1898 | #103 | 185 | 0.1508% |
| 1897 | #82 | 226 | 0.2004% |
| 1896 | #91 | 219 | 0.1832% |
| 1895 | #98 | 196 | 0.1670% |
| 1894 | #89 | 219 | 0.1892% |
| 1893 | #99 | 180 | 0.1603% |
| 1892 | #89 | 224 | 0.1836% |
| 1891 | #94 | 173 | 0.1710% |
| 1890 | #90 | 189 | 0.1702% |
| 1889 | #79 | 222 | 0.2008% |
| 1888 | #75 | 260 | 0.2151% |
| 1887 | #81 | 202 | 0.1992% |
| 1886 | #82 | 211 | 0.1905% |
| 1885 | #87 | 184 | 0.1707% |
| 1884 | #87 | 182 | 0.1590% |
| 1883 | #82 | 175 | 0.1673% |
| 1882 | #80 | 206 | 0.1812% |
| 1881 | #80 | 172 | 0.1707% |
| 1880 | #82 | 184 | 0.1665% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
Explore Name Lists Featuring Allen
Carl appears in several baby name collections based on U.S. popularity records, naming trends, and name characteristics. Explore these lists to discover other names with similar histories, styles, or features.
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How the Name Allen Shapes Your Personality and Life?
Powerful and complete. You are good intellectually and require several outlets for your energies. You are not a builder but a planner, and you want others to carry out your plans. You are bold, independent, inquisitive and interested in research. You know what you want and why you want it.
Position and social status is very important for you and you are always looking for way to improve your position in society. You have power and ability to chose your own destiny and achieve anything you want in life. You can expand in any direction according to your will and the set of values. You have passion for justice and belong to the position of authority. You have an inherent courage and endurance to accomplish "The Impossible Dream". With the power comes responsibility. You hold keys to the material world, but with this gift comes high spiritual responsibility to be fair and true to others. You are philosophical and mature, determined and intense with a desire to endure, often religious.
✦ Allen's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Allen's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.