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    The first name Galen

    A boy’s name from Greek meaning “calm”, “tranquillity”.

    Pronounced /ˈɡeɪlən/ 2 syllables Male Also a surname

    Meaning and origin

    Greek origin

    Galen means “calm”, “tranquillity” in Greek.

    From Middle English Galen, from Latin Galēnus, from Ancient Greek Γαληνός (Galēnós), from γαλήνη (galḗnē, “calm, tranquillity”).

    More names that mean peace.

    From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).

    Popularity

    Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025

    Galen last appeared in the official list in 2020, given to 3 boys. It peaked in 1998, with 4 births (#2,419).

    0510 1996200020052010201520202025
    18
    babies named Galen, 1996–2025
    #4,608
    rank in 2020
    1998
    peak year

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

    Popularity in the United States

    Babies named Galen at birth, 1880–2025

    In 2025, 23 boys born in the United States were named Galen, the 4,442nd most popular boys’ name that year. It was used most in 1949, when 433 were.

    0250500 188018851890189519001905191019151920192519301935194019451950195519601965197019751980198519901995200020052010201520202025
    GirlsBoys
    17,060
    babies named Galen since 1880
    #4,442
    rank in 2025
    1949
    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.

    Famous people named Galen

    7 on Wikidata, most written-about first

    • Galen Rupp
      American distance runner, born 1986
    • Galen Spencer
      American archer (1840–1904)
    • Galen Weston
      Canadian billionaire (1940-2021)
    • Galen Clark
      Canadian-born American conservationist, writer and botanist (1814 – 1910)
    • Galen Young
      American basketball player (1975–2021)
    • Galen Gering
      American actor, born 1971
    • Tolu Smith
      American basketball player (born 2000)

    More Greek boys’ names

    All 347 names of Greek origin

    Questions

    What does the name Galen mean?
    Galen means “calm”, “tranquillity” in Greek.
    What is the origin of the name Galen?
    From Middle English Galen, from Latin Galēnus, from Ancient Greek Γαληνός (Galēnós), from γαλήνη (galḗnē, “calm, tranquillity”).
    How popular is the name Galen?
    In 2020, 3 boys born in England and Wales were named Galen, ranking 4,608th. Its peak was 1998, with 4 births.
    Is Galen a boy's or a girl's name?
    Mostly a boy's name: 97% of the 17,060 US babies named Galen since 1880 were boys.
    When was Galen most popular?
    1949 in the United States, when 433 babies were named Galen, its highest rank at 329th.
    How do you pronounce Galen?
    Galen is /ˈɡeɪlən/, 2 syllables.
    Is Galen also a surname?
    Yes. Galen is used as a surname as well as a first name; its surname page has the origin and how many people carry it.