Allen
How to say it: AL-un · /ˈælən/
Variant of Alan; from Celtic possibly meaning 'little rock' or 'harmony'. English surname adopted as a given name.
Allen was the 152nd most popular boys’ name in the United States in 2025, given to 507 babies (Social Security Administration). Its busiest decade was the 1940s, its births are down about 31% in ten years, and it is projected to slip to #169 by 2030.
Updated · SSA 2025 data, published May 2026 · Insee 2025 data, published July 2026 · How we compute these figures
Key facts
| Rank among boys’ names, 2025 | #152 |
|---|---|
| Babies born in 2025 | 507 |
| Share of births | 1 in 1,253 |
| Peak decade | 1940s |
| Change over 10 years | −31% |
| Projected rank for 2030 (estimate) | #169 |
| In France, 2025 | #334 among boys’ names, 5 births |
Sources: Social Security Administration (SSA), Insee (France). How we compute these figures.
Its life, decade by decade
Popularity for Allen crested in the 1940s before a long decline. It remains far below that height and is expected to slip onward.
What goes with it
Mellow and soft through the middle, Allen feels calm and steady. Albert shares its style.
Nicknames
- Al
Honouring a Allen in the family
In the classroom
In a class of 25 children born in 2025, the chance that another child is called Allen is about 1 in 53.
Around the world
This spelling is used in English, French.
In France: #334 for boys in 2025.
Famous people named Allen
- Allen Ginsberg (1926–1997)American poet and writer
- Allen Iverson (born 1975)American basketball player
- Allen Dulles (1893–1969)First civilian and longest-serving Director of Central Intelligence (DCI)
From Wikidata and Wikipedia
Good to know
- Hurricane Allen (1980), retired Atlantic storm name
Keep exploring
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