Jalen
How to say it: JAY-lun · /ˈdʒeɪlən/
Modern invented name popularized in the 1990s by basketball player Jalen Rose, whose name combined his father James and uncle Leonard; not a Jay/Len blend in the sources. source 1
Jalen was the 210th most popular boys’ name in the United States in 2025, given to 711 babies (Social Security Administration). Its busiest decade was the 2000s, its births are steady over ten years, and it is projected to rise to #201 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 | #210 |
|---|---|
| Babies born in 2025 | 711 |
| Share of births | 1 in 1,776 |
| Peak decade | 2000s |
| Change over 10 years | −1% |
| Projected rank for 2030 (estimate) | #201 |
| In France, 2025 | #419 among boys’ names, 10 births |
Sources: Social Security Administration (SSA), Insee (France). How we compute these figures.
Its life, decade by decade
Born of recent decades with a high in the 2000s, Jalen now stands well below that mark. Renewed growth is expected.
What goes with it
Smooth and soft in two syllables, Jalen has an easy rhythm. Jayce shares its modern style.
Nicknames
- Jay
Honouring a Jalen in the family
In the classroom
In a class of 25 children born in 2025, the chance that another child is called Jalen is about 1 in 74.
Around the world
This spelling is used in English, French.
In France: #419 for boys in 2025.
Famous people named Jalen
- Jalen Brunson (born 1996)American basketball player
- Jalen Green (born 2002)American basketball player
- Jalen Rose (born 1973)American basketball player
From Wikidata and Wikipedia
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