Allen

Allen is a boy's name of English origin. Its meaning is not recorded in the standard references we check — we would rather tell you that plainly than guess. In 2024 it was given to 497 boys in the United States.

Allen at a glance

Gender
Boy name
Origin
English & American
Meaning
Not recorded in standard references
Pronunciation
/ˈæ.lən/

About the name Allen

Allen belongs to the English & American tradition. Its roots are documented, even though its precise meaning is not recorded in the standard references — an honest gap we prefer to a confident guess.

In the United States, Allen first appears in Social Security records in 1880. It climbed to its best-ever rank of #71 in 1940, and in 2024 497 babies received the name — 271,282 in total since 1880. Those are the official counts, not estimates.

Allen in US records

First recorded (US)
1880
Best US rank
#71 in 1940
Peak year
1951
Babies named Allen in 2024
497
Total since 1880
271,282

Allen in England & Wales records

First recorded (since 1996)
1996
Best rank
#1079 in 2007
Babies named Allen in 2025
6
Total since 1996
271

Similar names

More names from the English & American shelf:

Frequently asked questions

What does the name Allen mean?

The meaning of Allen is not recorded in the standard references we check. Rather than repeat an unsourced claim, we leave it open — its English origin is documented, but its exact meaning is not.

Is Allen a boy or girl name?

Allen is a boy name. In 2024, 497 babies received the name in the US.

What origin is the name Allen?

Allen comes from the English & American tradition.

How popular is the name Allen?

Allen first appears in US records in 1880. Its best-ever ranking was #71 in 1940, and 497 babies were given the name in 2024.

How do you pronounce Allen?

Allen is pronounced /ˈæ.lən/ (IPA).

Meaning and origin for this page were checked against this source. US popularity figures are from the Social Security Administration's public baby-names data. England & Wales figures are from the Office for National Statistics. If you spot an error, write to [email protected] — accuracy is the whole point of this site, and corrections are made fast.