Fun Facts About the Name Glenn
- A favorite of earlier generations: Glenn appeared in the U.S. top 100 in 5 separate runs, totaling 63 years. Its last run lasted 58 consecutive years, from 1912 through 1969.
- More than 250 thousand babies named Glenn: U.S. records list 250,777 babies given the name Glenn from 1880 through 2025. Even 2,136 girls received the name Glenn - about 1 girl for every 116 boys.
What Does the Name Glenn Mean?
Glenn comes from Scottish Gaelic gleann and Irish gleann, meaning "valley" - more precisely a narrow, steep-sided valley. English borrowed the same word as glen. The name began as a surname taken from the landscape rather than from an earlier personal name.
The language of origin is Gaelic, while the name itself is used today throughout the English-speaking world. Welsh has a similar-looking word, glyn, which also means "valley," and the two are sometimes confused, but Glenn is normally traced to the Gaelic word rather than the Welsh one.
Glenn Name History & Origins
Glenn began as a surname in Scotland and Ireland, formed from the Gaelic word gleann; the earlier Old Irish form was glenn. It belongs to the large group of surnames that record where a family lived, in this case at a glen. The word is frequent in Scottish and Irish place names, as in Glencoe, from Scottish Gaelic Gleann Comhann, and Glenfinnan.
From the surname it passed into use as a given name in the English-speaking world. Both the single-n form Glen and the double-n form Glenn are found. The name is mainly masculine, though it has also occasionally been given to girls. It has no single origin in literature or religion; it spread through the ordinary movement of surnames into first names.
How Popular is the Name Glenn?
Glenn has a rich multi-era history in the U.S. top 100, spanning 63 total years and enjoying its modern revival from 1912 to 1969.
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 | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | #16,198 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1999 | #7,888 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1997 | #7,959 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1996 | #7,294 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1995 | #9,023 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1994 | #9,081 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1993 | #5,500 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 1992 | #7,700 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1991 | #7,110 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1990 | #6,242 | 14 | 0.0007% |
| 1989 | #4,929 | 18 | 0.0010% |
| 1988 | #6,803 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1987 | #6,971 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1986 | #5,267 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 1985 | #4,025 | 20 | 0.0012% |
| 1984 | #10,973 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1983 | #5,943 | 11 | 0.0007% |
| 1982 | #7,707 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1981 | #7,635 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1980 | #6,047 | 11 | 0.0007% |
| 1979 | #6,354 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1978 | #7,906 | 7 | 0.0005% |
| 1977 | #5,628 | 11 | 0.0007% |
| 1976 | #8,493 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1975 | #4,425 | 14 | 0.0010% |
| 1974 | #3,471 | 19 | 0.0013% |
| 1973 | #4,658 | 12 | 0.0008% |
| 1972 | #3,956 | 15 | 0.0010% |
| 1971 | #4,007 | 15 | 0.0009% |
| 1970 | #2,970 | 23 | 0.0013% |
| 1969 | #3,046 | 20 | 0.0012% |
| 1968 | #3,676 | 14 | 0.0009% |
| 1967 | #3,247 | 16 | 0.0010% |
| 1966 | #2,422 | 25 | 0.0015% |
| 1965 | #3,463 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 1964 | #2,701 | 22 | 0.0012% |
| 1963 | #2,568 | 23 | 0.0012% |
| 1962 | #2,043 | 33 | 0.0017% |
| 1961 | #2,048 | 33 | 0.0016% |
| 1960 | #2,599 | 22 | 0.0011% |
| 1959 | #1,769 | 39 | 0.0019% |
| 1958 | #2,183 | 27 | 0.0013% |
| 1957 | #1,881 | 34 | 0.0017% |
| 1956 | #1,745 | 37 | 0.0018% |
| 1955 | #2,578 | 19 | 0.0010% |
| 1954 | #2,473 | 20 | 0.0010% |
| 1953 | #1,895 | 29 | 0.0015% |
| 1952 | #2,287 | 21 | 0.0011% |
| 1951 | #1,984 | 25 | 0.0014% |
| 1950 | #1,692 | 31 | 0.0018% |
| 1949 | #1,935 | 25 | 0.0015% |
| 1948 | #1,584 | 35 | 0.0021% |
| 1947 | #1,961 | 25 | 0.0014% |
| 1946 | #1,825 | 25 | 0.0016% |
| 1945 | #2,379 | 14 | 0.0011% |
| 1944 | #2,135 | 17 | 0.0013% |
| 1943 | #1,449 | 33 | 0.0024% |
| 1942 | #1,725 | 24 | 0.0018% |
| 1941 | #1,667 | 23 | 0.0019% |
| 1940 | #2,143 | 15 | 0.0013% |
| 1939 | #2,235 | 14 | 0.0013% |
| 1938 | #2,156 | 15 | 0.0014% |
| 1937 | #1,469 | 26 | 0.0024% |
| 1936 | #1,824 | 18 | 0.0017% |
| 1935 | #1,691 | 21 | 0.0020% |
| 1934 | #1,456 | 26 | 0.0025% |
| 1933 | #1,525 | 24 | 0.0024% |
| 1932 | #1,907 | 18 | 0.0017% |
| 1931 | #2,244 | 14 | 0.0013% |
| 1930 | #1,171 | 41 | 0.0036% |
| 1929 | #1,202 | 39 | 0.0035% |
| 1928 | #1,519 | 28 | 0.0024% |
| 1927 | #1,312 | 37 | 0.0031% |
| 1926 | #1,598 | 27 | 0.0023% |
| 1925 | #1,110 | 48 | 0.0039% |
| 1924 | #1,513 | 31 | 0.0025% |
| 1923 | #1,274 | 38 | 0.0031% |
| 1922 | #2,051 | 19 | 0.0016% |
| 1921 | #1,449 | 32 | 0.0026% |
| 1920 | #1,636 | 26 | 0.0022% |
| 1919 | #1,880 | 20 | 0.0018% |
| 1918 | #1,512 | 28 | 0.0024% |
| 1917 | #1,447 | 27 | 0.0025% |
| 1916 | #1,236 | 34 | 0.0033% |
| 1915 | #1,351 | 28 | 0.0028% |
| 1914 | #1,405 | 21 | 0.0028% |
| 1913 | #1,287 | 20 | 0.0032% |
| 1912 | #1,766 | 11 | 0.0020% |
| 1911 | #1,406 | 12 | 0.0029% |
| 1910 | #1,835 | 8 | 0.0020% |
| 1909 | #1,406 | 10 | 0.0029% |
| 1908 | #980 | 17 | 0.0051% |
| 1907 | #1,713 | 7 | 0.0022% |
| 1906 | #1,068 | 13 | 0.0044% |
| 1905 | #1,031 | 14 | 0.0048% |
| 1904 | #1,406 | 8 | 0.0029% |
| 1903 | #1,911 | 5 | 0.0019% |
| 1902 | #1,367 | 8 | 0.0030% |
| 1901 | #1,096 | 10 | 0.0042% |
| 1900 | #841 | 20 | 0.0067% |
| 1899 | #947 | 12 | 0.0051% |
| 1898 | #1,026 | 12 | 0.0046% |
| 1897 | #1,063 | 10 | 0.0043% |
| 1896 | #921 | 13 | 0.0055% |
| 1895 | #647 | 23 | 0.0098% |
| 1894 | #1,408 | 6 | 0.0027% |
| 1893 | #1,223 | 7 | 0.0033% |
| 1892 | #930 | 11 | 0.0052% |
| 1891 | #814 | 12 | 0.0065% |
| 1890 | #846 | 11 | 0.0058% |
| 1889 | #1,067 | 7 | 0.0039% |
| 1888 | #986 | 8 | 0.0045% |
| 1887 | #1,207 | 5 | 0.0034% |
| 1886 | #1,023 | 6 | 0.0042% |
| 1885 | #765 | 9 | 0.0068% |
| 1884 | #964 | 6 | 0.0047% |
| 1883 | #970 | 5 | 0.0045% |
| 1881 | #871 | 5 | 0.0054% |
| 1880 | #868 | 5 | 0.0055% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #1,443 | 124 | 0.0073% |
| 2024 | #1,362 | 138 | 0.0080% |
| 2023 | #1,582 | 110 | 0.0064% |
| 2022 | #1,434 | 127 | 0.0073% |
| 2021 | #1,443 | 125 | 0.0072% |
| 2020 | #1,400 | 124 | 0.0072% |
| 2019 | #1,396 | 127 | 0.0071% |
| 2018 | #1,236 | 150 | 0.0083% |
| 2017 | #1,279 | 142 | 0.0077% |
| 2016 | #1,125 | 173 | 0.0091% |
| 2015 | #1,142 | 165 | 0.0086% |
| 2014 | #1,168 | 161 | 0.0084% |
| 2013 | #1,115 | 163 | 0.0086% |
| 2012 | #1,054 | 181 | 0.0095% |
| 2011 | #1,121 | 163 | 0.0086% |
| 2010 | #1,026 | 189 | 0.0099% |
| 2009 | #1,066 | 175 | 0.0088% |
| 2008 | #865 | 246 | 0.0121% |
| 2007 | #826 | 260 | 0.0125% |
| 2006 | #850 | 237 | 0.0115% |
| 2005 | #761 | 261 | 0.0131% |
| 2004 | #680 | 297 | 0.0150% |
| 2003 | #670 | 296 | 0.0150% |
| 2002 | #616 | 321 | 0.0165% |
| 2001 | #628 | 302 | 0.0155% |
| 2000 | #591 | 335 | 0.0171% |
| 1999 | #527 | 397 | 0.0207% |
| 1998 | #495 | 440 | 0.0230% |
| 1997 | #470 | 461 | 0.0245% |
| 1996 | #455 | 483 | 0.0255% |
| 1995 | #431 | 529 | 0.0278% |
| 1994 | #411 | 554 | 0.0287% |
| 1993 | #361 | 653 | 0.0333% |
| 1992 | #343 | 696 | 0.0348% |
| 1991 | #305 | 843 | 0.0417% |
| 1990 | #297 | 852 | 0.0415% |
| 1989 | #271 | 912 | 0.0456% |
| 1988 | #254 | 926 | 0.0484% |
| 1987 | #237 | 988 | 0.0529% |
| 1986 | #236 | 982 | 0.0533% |
| 1985 | #229 | 1,004 | 0.0543% |
| 1984 | #221 | 1,023 | 0.0567% |
| 1983 | #222 | 1,016 | 0.0567% |
| 1982 | #218 | 1,088 | 0.0600% |
| 1981 | #221 | 1,107 | 0.0618% |
| 1980 | #216 | 1,143 | 0.0641% |
| 1979 | #213 | 1,118 | 0.0649% |
| 1978 | #200 | 1,121 | 0.0683% |
| 1977 | #188 | 1,245 | 0.0758% |
| 1976 | #176 | 1,317 | 0.0839% |
| 1975 | #170 | 1,383 | 0.0886% |
| 1974 | #158 | 1,542 | 0.0981% |
| 1973 | #146 | 1,702 | 0.1092% |
| 1972 | #134 | 1,980 | 0.1221% |
| 1971 | #127 | 2,475 | 0.1399% |
| 1970 | #109 | 3,008 | 0.1619% |
| 1969 | #88 | 3,468 | 0.1939% |
| 1968 | #92 | 3,245 | 0.1867% |
| 1967 | #91 | 3,440 | 0.1973% |
| 1966 | #90 | 3,667 | 0.2056% |
| 1965 | #85 | 4,358 | 0.2343% |
| 1964 | #81 | 4,752 | 0.2385% |
| 1963 | #64 | 5,974 | 0.2942% |
| 1962 | #55 | 7,358 | 0.3557% |
| 1961 | #64 | 6,269 | 0.2952% |
| 1960 | #74 | 5,565 | 0.2610% |
| 1959 | #79 | 5,351 | 0.2507% |
| 1958 | #77 | 5,461 | 0.2573% |
| 1957 | #62 | 6,267 | 0.2905% |
| 1956 | #61 | 6,196 | 0.2929% |
| 1955 | #59 | 6,258 | 0.3038% |
| 1954 | #63 | 6,240 | 0.3061% |
| 1953 | #67 | 5,727 | 0.2904% |
| 1952 | #61 | 5,944 | 0.3058% |
| 1951 | #58 | 5,803 | 0.3082% |
| 1950 | #59 | 5,465 | 0.3053% |
| 1949 | #61 | 5,414 | 0.3052% |
| 1948 | #73 | 4,740 | 0.2701% |
| 1947 | #70 | 5,157 | 0.2819% |
| 1946 | #81 | 3,892 | 0.2397% |
| 1945 | #93 | 2,734 | 0.2031% |
| 1944 | #88 | 2,850 | 0.2091% |
| 1943 | #85 | 3,053 | 0.2139% |
| 1942 | #88 | 2,888 | 0.2091% |
| 1941 | #86 | 2,523 | 0.2054% |
| 1940 | #83 | 2,465 | 0.2127% |
| 1939 | #87 | 2,303 | 0.2081% |
| 1938 | #83 | 2,367 | 0.2134% |
| 1937 | #89 | 2,263 | 0.2122% |
| 1936 | #80 | 2,328 | 0.2245% |
| 1935 | #78 | 2,437 | 0.2340% |
| 1934 | #81 | 2,341 | 0.2267% |
| 1933 | #74 | 2,366 | 0.2386% |
| 1932 | #77 | 2,435 | 0.2332% |
| 1931 | #72 | 2,624 | 0.2524% |
| 1930 | #71 | 2,758 | 0.2513% |
| 1929 | #80 | 2,433 | 0.2262% |
| 1928 | #76 | 2,603 | 0.2350% |
| 1927 | #76 | 2,670 | 0.2369% |
| 1926 | #75 | 2,635 | 0.2373% |
| 1925 | #77 | 2,611 | 0.2340% |
| 1924 | #79 | 2,586 | 0.2283% |
| 1923 | #84 | 2,370 | 0.2162% |
| 1922 | #79 | 2,425 | 0.2229% |
| 1921 | #80 | 2,449 | 0.2223% |
| 1920 | #80 | 2,375 | 0.2231% |
| 1919 | #84 | 2,153 | 0.2197% |
| 1918 | #84 | 2,253 | 0.2223% |
| 1917 | #86 | 1,997 | 0.2158% |
| 1916 | #84 | 1,970 | 0.2213% |
| 1915 | #87 | 1,842 | 0.2171% |
| 1914 | #91 | 1,327 | 0.2027% |
| 1913 | #85 | 1,122 | 0.2189% |
| 1912 | #84 | 948 | 0.2205% |
| 1911 | #111 | 343 | 0.1518% |
| 1910 | #97 | 349 | 0.1797% |
| 1909 | #103 | 261 | 0.1592% |
| 1908 | #103 | 247 | 0.1600% |
| 1907 | #104 | 234 | 0.1594% |
| 1906 | #98 | 217 | 0.1630% |
| 1905 | #114 | 189 | 0.1429% |
| 1904 | #99 | 217 | 0.1694% |
| 1903 | #97 | 198 | 0.1661% |
| 1902 | #106 | 185 | 0.1508% |
| 1901 | #94 | 180 | 0.1691% |
| 1900 | #118 | 194 | 0.1289% |
| 1899 | #107 | 161 | 0.1516% |
| 1898 | #108 | 178 | 0.1451% |
| 1897 | #104 | 171 | 0.1517% |
| 1896 | #107 | 174 | 0.1455% |
| 1895 | #113 | 150 | 0.1278% |
| 1894 | #114 | 142 | 0.1227% |
| 1893 | #122 | 131 | 0.1166% |
| 1892 | #121 | 139 | 0.1139% |
| 1891 | #108 | 138 | 0.1364% |
| 1890 | #123 | 117 | 0.1054% |
| 1889 | #140 | 103 | 0.0931% |
| 1888 | #140 | 110 | 0.0910% |
| 1887 | #148 | 86 | 0.0848% |
| 1886 | #136 | 99 | 0.0894% |
| 1885 | #194 | 68 | 0.0631% |
| 1884 | #213 | 61 | 0.0533% |
| 1883 | #182 | 65 | 0.0621% |
| 1882 | #233 | 51 | 0.0449% |
| 1881 | #224 | 45 | 0.0447% |
| 1880 | #254 | 43 | 0.0389% |
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.
