Boy name · Scottish Gaelic
Glen
Name meaning, origin and popularity
: valleyGlen is a boy's name that comes from Scottish Gaelic and means "valley". It is used in English and Scottish.
- Meaning
- Valley
- Origin
- Scottish Gaelic
- Gender
- Boy
- US rank
- #2026 in 2025
Meaning and origin of Glen
As a boy's name, Glen comes from Scottish Gaelic and means "valley". It is used in English and Scottish.
Its meaning puts Glen on our nature names list.
Meanings come from published name dictionaries, led by Behind the Name. How we research names
Glen on Nomezo lists
What our editors wrote about Glen on 3 lists.
“Campbell, whose 1975 Rhinestone Cowboy topped both the country and pop charts”
From Redneck names for boys, country music inspired boy names
“From the Gaelic for valley, where the herd grazes”
From Highland cattle names, scottish words that make great Highland cow names
“From Gaelic gleann, a valley; a Scottish surname.”
From Scottish boy names, scottish place names for boys
How popular is Glen?
- US rank in 2025
- #2,026
- 74 babies, 43 per million boys
- Best rank
- #112 in 1931
- Most babies: 2,924 in 1957
- Babies since 1880
- At least 125,706
- Years with under 5 are not listed
| 1880s | 399 per million |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 841 per million |
| 1900s | 985 per million |
| 1910s | 1,280 per million |
| 1920s | 1,358 per million |
| 1930s | 1,371 per million |
| 1940s | 1,112 per million |
| 1950s | 1,256 per million |
| 1960s | 1,136 per million |
| 1970s | 595 per million |
| 1980s | 289 per million |
| 1990s | 160 per million |
| 2000s | 76 per million |
| 2010s | 50 per million |
| 2020s | 39 per million |
| Year | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #1,803 | #1,613 | #1,904 | #1,984 | #2,424 | #1,817 | #2,088 | #2,400 | #2,293 | #2,026 |
Source: US Social Security Administration baby-name data, 1880 to 2025, as published in 2026. Each spelling is counted separately, a name given to fewer than 5 babies of one sex in a year is left out, and few people born before 1937 have records, which is why the chart shows babies per million rather than raw counts.
Other forms of Glen
The same name in other languages and spellings, with the same meaning and origin.
- GlennValley (Scottish Gaelic, unisex)
Names spelled like Glen
One or two letters apart, but from a different root: they look alike without sharing a meaning.
- GlebHeir of God (Old Norse, boy)
- GlynA valley (Welsh, boy)
- GaelA Gaelic speaker, a Celt of Ireland or Scotland (Gaelic, boy)
- GaonCenter of the world (Korean, boy)
- GefenGrapevine (Hebrew, unisex)
- GwernAlder tree (Welsh, boy)
- GwynWhite, fair, blessed (Welsh, boy)
Names with a similar meaning
- CamdenFrom a surname from a place name, perhaps enclosed valley (Old English, boy)
- DaleValley (Old English, unisex)
- DallasFrom a surname meaning valley house or meadow dwelling (Old English, unisex)
- DeanFrom a surname meaning valley (Old English, boy)
- GuyValley, ravine (Hebrew, boy)
- HaydenHay valley or hay hill (Old English, unisex)
- HoldenFrom a surname and place name meaning deep valley (Old English, boy)
- KendallValley of the River Kent (English, unisex)
- MügeLily of the valley (Turkish, girl)
- SheldonValley with steep sides (Old English, boy)
Middle names for Glen
Picked from our middle-name lists with a different first letter and a longer length, so the full name flows.
- AnselGod helmet (Germanic, boy)
- BartholomewSon of Talmai (Aramaic, boy)
- EzekielGod strengthens (Hebrew, boy)
- JamesSupplanter, holder of the heel (Hebrew, boy)
- LaurenceFrom Laurentum, a Roman town (Latin, boy)
- PrestonPriest's town (Old English, boy)
- ReubenBehold, a son (Hebrew, boy)
- WalterRuler of the army (Germanic, boy)
More boy names from Scottish Gaelic
- AngusOne strength (Scottish Gaelic, boy)
- KennethAnglicized Coinneach, handsome, and Cináed, perhaps born of fire (Scottish Gaelic, boy)
- BlairPlain, field (Scottish Gaelic, unisex)
- BowieYellow (Scottish Gaelic, boy)
- CameronCrooked nose (Scottish Gaelic, unisex)
- CampbellCrooked mouth (Scottish Gaelic, boy)
- ColinWhelp, young dog (Scottish Gaelic, boy)
- CraigRock, crag (Scottish Gaelic, boy)
- DonaldWorld ruler (Scottish Gaelic, boy)
- DonnchadhBrown warrior (Scottish Gaelic, boy)
Glen: common questions
What does the name Glen mean?
Glen comes from Scottish Gaelic and means "valley".
Is Glen a boy or girl name?
Glen is mainly a boy's name.
Where does the name Glen come from?
Glen comes from Scottish Gaelic and means "valley". Today it is used in English and Scottish.
How popular is the name Glen?
Glen ranked #2,026 in the US in 2025, with 74 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
What are other forms of Glen?
Forms of Glen with the same meaning and origin include Glenn (Scottish).
What middle names go with Glen?
Middle names that flow well with Glen include Ansel, Bartholomew, Ezekiel, James and Laurence. A different first letter and a contrasting length usually sound best.