Unisex name · Scottish Gaelic
Glenn
Name meaning, origin and popularity
: valleyGlenn is a gender-neutral name that comes from Scottish Gaelic and means "valley". It is used in Scottish and English.
- Meaning
- Valley
- Origin
- Scottish Gaelic
- Gender
- Unisex
- US rank
- #1443 in 2025
Meaning and origin of Glenn
As a gender-neutral name, Glenn comes from Scottish Gaelic and means "valley". It is used in Scottish and English.
As a boy's name, Glenn comes from Scottish Gaelic and means "valley". It is used in English and Scottish.
Glenn is also a surname: the 686th most common in the 2020 US Census, held by 48,549 people. See the most common last names.
Its meaning puts Glenn on our nature names list.
Meanings come from published name dictionaries, led by Behind the Name. How we research names
Glenn on Nomezo lists
What our editors wrote about Glenn on 6 lists.
“Valley; Scottish Gaelic. Classic landscape name”
From Boy middle names, nature middle names for boys
“Valley; Scottish Gaelic. Shared with astronaut John”
From Classic boy names, short one-syllable classic boy names
“Gaelic gleann, a narrow valley”
From Cool last names, nature last names
“Valley; Scottish Gaelic, actress Close's first name”
From Gender neutral names, short gender-neutral names
“Valley; from a Scottish surname, Gaelic gleann”
From Nature names, nature names for boys
“Valley; Scottish Gaelic. Shared with astronaut John”
From Old man names, short and sturdy old guy names
How popular is Glenn?
As a girl’s name
- Recent US rank
- Fewer than 5 babies in 2025
- Best rank
- #647 in 1895
- Most babies: 48 in 1925
- Babies since 1880
- At least 2,136
- Years with under 5 are not listed
| 1880s | 43 per million |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 53 per million |
| 1900s | 38 per million |
| 1910s | 26 per million |
| 1920s | 27 per million |
| 1930s | 20 per million |
| 1940s | 16 per million |
| 1950s | 15 per million |
| 1960s | 12 per million |
| 1970s | 9 per million |
| 1980s | 7 per million |
| 1990s | 6 per million |
| 2000s | 0 per million |
| 2010s | 0 per million |
| 2020s | 0 per million |
As a boy’s name
- US rank in 2025
- #1,443
- 124 babies, 73 per million boys
- Best rank
- #55 in 1962
- 7,356 babies that year
- Babies since 1880
- At least 248,642
- Years with under 5 are not listed
| 1880s | 667 per million |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 1,316 per million |
| 1900s | 1,563 per million |
| 1910s | 2,143 per million |
| 1920s | 2,283 per million |
| 1930s | 2,292 per million |
| 1940s | 2,399 per million |
| 1950s | 2,904 per million |
| 1960s | 2,497 per million |
| 1970s | 1,023 per million |
| 1980s | 552 per million |
| 1990s | 303 per million |
| 2000s | 137 per million |
| 2010s | 86 per million |
| 2020s | 72 per million |
| Year | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #1,125 | #1,274 | #1,236 | #1,396 | #1,401 | #1,445 | #1,434 | #1,584 | #1,360 | #1,443 |
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 Glenn
The same name in other languages and spellings, with the same meaning and origin.
- GlenValley (Scottish Gaelic, boy)
Names spelled like Glenn
One or two letters apart, but from a different root: they look alike without sharing a meaning.
- GwenWhite, fair, blessed (Welsh, girl)
- GaeunLovely grace (depends on hanja) (Korean, girl)
- GlebHeir of God (Old Norse, boy)
- GlenysPure, holy (Welsh, girl)
- GlynA valley (Welsh, boy)
- GwernAlder tree (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 Glenn
Picked from our middle-name lists with a different first letter and a longer length, so the full name flows.
More names from Scottish Gaelic
- MurielBright sea (Scottish Gaelic, girl)
- 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)
Glenn: common questions
What does the name Glenn mean?
Glenn comes from Scottish Gaelic and means "valley". It also has another origin: the same meaning in another language.
Is Glenn a boy or girl name?
Glenn is used for both boys and girls.
Where does the name Glenn come from?
Glenn comes from Scottish Gaelic and means "valley". Today it is used in Scottish and English.
How popular is the name Glenn?
Glenn ranked #1,443 in the US in 2025, with 124 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
What are other forms of Glenn?
Forms of Glenn with the same meaning and origin include Glen (English).
What middle names go with Glenn?
Middle names that flow well with Glenn include Carlton, Colette, Magnus, Margaret and Shane. A different first letter and a contrasting length usually sound best.