Skip to content
Name Lineage

    The first name Allen

    A boy’s name.

    Pronounced /ˈæ.lən/ 2 syllables Male Also a surname

    Meaning and origin

    An English and Scottish surname transferred from the given name derived from the given name Alan.

    A form of Alan.

    From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).

    Popularity

    Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025

    In 2025, 6 boys were named Allen, making it the 3,256th most popular boys’ name. It peaked in 2007, with 22 births (#1,079).

    01530 1996200020052010201520202025
    277
    babies named Allen, 1996–2025
    #3,256
    rank in 2025
    2007
    peak year

    Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Allen with other names.

    Popularity in the United States

    Babies named Allen at birth, 1880–2025

    In 2025, 507 boys born in the United States were named Allen, the 578th most popular boys’ name that year. It was used most in 1951, when 5,179 were.

    03,0006,000 188018851890189519001905191019151920192519301935194019451950195519601965197019751980198519901995200020052010201520202025
    273,662
    babies named Allen since 1880
    #578
    rank in 2025
    1951
    peak year

    US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.

    Nicknames and spellings

    Other spellings and forms

    Famous people named Allen

    156 on Wikidata, most written-about first

    • Allen Ginsberg
      American poet and writer (1926–1997)
    • Allen Iverson
      American basketball player (born 1975)
    • Allen Dulles
      First civilian and longest-serving Director of Central Intelligence (DCI), 1893–1969
    • Allen Newell
      American cognitive scientist (1927–1992)
    • J. Allen Hynek
      American astronomer (1910–1986)
    • Allen Johnson
      American hurdler, born 1971
    • Leon Allen White
      American professional wrestler (1955–2018)
    • Allen Klein
      American businessman, music publisher (1931–2009)
    • E. Allen Emerson
      American computer scientist (1954–2024)
    • Allen Carr
      British author (1934–2006)
    • Allen Collins
      American guitarist (1952–1990)
    • Allen Toussaint
      American musician, songwriter and record producer (1938–2015)

    Questions

    How popular is the name Allen?
    In 2025, 6 boys born in England and Wales were named Allen, ranking 3,256th. Its peak was 2007, with 22 births.
    Is Allen a boy's or a girl's name?
    Mostly a boy's name: 99% of the 273,662 US babies named Allen since 1880 were boys.
    When was Allen most popular?
    1951 in the United States, when 5,179 babies were named Allen, its highest rank at 72nd.
    How do you pronounce Allen?
    Allen is /ˈæ.lən/, 2 syllables.
    What name is Allen a form of?
    Allen is a form of Alan.
    What are other spellings of Allen?
    Alan, Allan and Alen.
    Is Allen also a surname?
    Yes. Allen is used as a surname as well as a first name; its surname page has the origin and how many people carry it.