Galen

Last seen for girls in 2005 at #14,502 · #4,396 for boys in 2025, 23 births
Given to boys 96.7% of the time

Showing
Show data for
Peak · boys
1949 · 433 births
Debut · boys
6 births
In top 100 · boys
never
of 146 years
Total births · boys
16,500
since 1889

Galen over time

boys

Rank among boys' names. Galen has never cracked the top 300 here.

#1#10#100#1,000rank188019001920194019601980200020201986peak #329, 1949boys
Hover or use arrow keys to read values by year; click or press Enter to open that year.

Gaps mean fewer than 5 babies received the name that year, so the SSA doesn't publish it.

Show data table
Yeargirlsboys
rankbirthsrankbirths
2025—#4,39623
2024—#2,75047
2023—#3,17738
2022—#2,61651
2021—#2,77545
2020—#2,72845
2019—#2,62649
2018—#2,32557
2017—#2,34555
2016—#3,44132
2015—#2,60047
2014—#2,17562
2013—#2,46150
2012—#2,32655
2011—#3,43431
2010—#2,21259
2009—#2,48651
2008—#2,29157
2007—#2,64346
2006—#2,01066
2005#14,5026#1,67480
2004—#1,55585
2003#12,4087#1,42093
2002#9,48210#1,303103
2001#13,5216#1,35794
2000—#1,175116
1999#8,22311#1,095122
1998#5,36319#1,017133
1997#5,62617#1,110114
1996#5,77116#914143
1995#5,67716#887152
1994#5,98415#881151
1993#4,10025#858152
1992#4,23624#867148
1991#7,98710#827156
1990#4,86819#766176
1989#6,53112#782161
1988#6,27712#778147
1987#7,9878#712164
1986#7,7498#661184
1985#5,67812#698159
1984#7,3988#710151
1983#7,3128#721143
1982#6,37110#782126
1981#5,88511#706150
1980#6,7899#694157
1979#10,2105#693152
1978#7,6497#673154
1977#6,8928#737135
1976#9,2845#711138
1975#6,4848#596183
1974#4,45913#698138
1973—#642154
1972#7,2926#585185
1971—#600191
1970#6,3627#556212
1969#6,6176#575187
1968#5,1478#561182
1967#4,6259#570174
1966#5,8096#575173
1965#4,4949#594164
1964#5,0088#533215
1963#5,8916#557201
1962#6,5785#545213
1961#6,5675#525228
1960—#533220
1959#4,6258#500246
1958—#496245
1957#5,3776#481262
1956#4,8377#449284
1955#5,8285#428293
1954#4,2788#409307
1953#2,92114#408293
1952#2,92114#395304
1951#4,3857#351378
1950#4,7386#374326
1949#3,8928#329433
1948#3,13711#367342
1947#4,3457#397299
1946#3,9947#435210
1945#3,6767#424198
1944#4,5745#411214
1943#2,35215#441204
1942—#430204
1941—#450171
1940—#443170
1939—#438169
1938#4,3425#460157
1937—#485138
1936—#477139
1935—#479140
1934—#492136
1933—#495128
1932—#528122
1931—#532119
1930—#591104
1929—#527122
1928—#608101
1927—#553124
1926—#619103
1925—#600110
1924—#64299
1923—#589114
1922—#68690
1921—#66595
1920—#72181
1919—#70479
1918—#76172
1917—#74969
1916—#68575
1915—#75962
1914—#64561
1913—#72041
1912—#68139
1911—#1,1909
1910—#92812
1909—#1,1557
1908—#1,0218
1907—#9309
1906—#79810
1905—#1,0916
1904—#1,2055
1903——
1902——
1901——
1900—#1,0507
1899—#1,0515
1898—#1,0026
1897——
1896—#1,1015
1895—#7958
1894——
1893——
1892——
1891——
1890——
1889—#8786
1888——
1887——
1886——
1885——
1884——
1883——
1882——
1881——
1880——
First appearance
1889

The first year at least five boys were named Galen! It came in at #878, and was given to 6 baby boys.


Quietest stretch: 1890–1894, when fewer than 5 boys a year got the name.

Where Galen is popular in 1986

  • Rank in state
  • Top 10
  • 11–50
  • 51–100
  • 101–500
  • 501+
  • Not published
Alaska: fewer than 5 boys named Galen, so not publishedAKMaine: fewer than 5 boys named Galen, so not publishedMEVermont: fewer than 5 boys named Galen, so not publishedVTNew Hampshire: fewer than 5 boys named Galen, so not publishedNHWashington: #397 for boys · 7 births · 1 in 4,472 boysWAIdaho: fewer than 5 boys named Galen, so not publishedIDMontana: fewer than 5 boys named Galen, so not publishedMTNorth Dakota: fewer than 5 boys named Galen, so not publishedNDMinnesota: fewer than 5 boys named Galen, so not publishedMNIllinois: fewer than 5 boys named Galen, so not publishedILWisconsin: fewer than 5 boys named Galen, so not publishedWIMichigan: fewer than 5 boys named Galen, so not publishedMINew York: #889 for boys · 8 births · 1 in 15,274 boysNYMassachusetts: #432 for boys · 5 births · 1 in 7,845 boysMARhode Island: fewer than 5 boys named Galen, so not publishedRIOregon: #270 for boys · 7 births · 1 in 2,568 boysORNevada: fewer than 5 boys named Galen, so not publishedNVWyoming: fewer than 5 boys named Galen, so not publishedWYSouth Dakota: fewer than 5 boys named Galen, so not publishedSDIowa: fewer than 5 boys named Galen, so not publishedIAIndiana: fewer than 5 boys named Galen, so not publishedINOhio: #450 for boys · 10 births · 1 in 7,549 boysOHPennsylvania: #526 for boys · 8 births · 1 in 9,652 boysPANew Jersey: fewer than 5 boys named Galen, so not publishedNJConnecticut: fewer than 5 boys named Galen, so not publishedCTCalifornia: #597 for boys · 28 births · 1 in 8,154 boysCAUtah: fewer than 5 boys named Galen, so not publishedUTColorado: fewer than 5 boys named Galen, so not publishedCONebraska: fewer than 5 boys named Galen, so not publishedNEMissouri: fewer than 5 boys named Galen, so not publishedMOKentucky: fewer than 5 boys named Galen, so not publishedKYWest Virginia: fewer than 5 boys named Galen, so not publishedWVVirginia: #430 for boys · 7 births · 1 in 5,402 boysVAMaryland: fewer than 5 boys named Galen, so not publishedMDDelaware: fewer than 5 boys named Galen, so not publishedDEArizona: #412 for boys · 7 births · 1 in 3,888 boysAZNew Mexico: fewer than 5 boys named Galen, so not publishedNMKansas: fewer than 5 boys named Galen, so not publishedKSArkansas: fewer than 5 boys named Galen, so not publishedARTennessee: #465 for boys · 5 births · 1 in 6,263 boysTNNorth Carolina: #587 for boys · 5 births · 1 in 8,177 boysNCSouth Carolina: fewer than 5 boys named Galen, so not publishedSCDistrict of Columbia: fewer than 5 boys named Galen, so not publishedDCOklahoma: fewer than 5 boys named Galen, so not publishedOKLouisiana: fewer than 5 boys named Galen, so not publishedLAMississippi: fewer than 5 boys named Galen, so not publishedMSAlabama: fewer than 5 boys named Galen, so not publishedALGeorgia: #645 for boys · 5 births · 1 in 8,837 boysGAHawaii: fewer than 5 boys named Galen, so not publishedHITexas: #633 for boys · 19 births · 1 in 7,701 boysTXFlorida: #889 for boys · 5 births · 1 in 15,284 boysFL

Hover or tap a state for its numbers.

Top states · boys
  1. Oregon#270 · 1 in 2,568
  2. Washington#397 · 1 in 4,472
  3. Arizona#412 · 1 in 3,888
  4. Virginia#430 · 1 in 5,402
  5. Massachusetts#432 · 1 in 7,845

Best ever in a state: #84 in Kansas, 1951.

Show every state
StateRankBirthsShare
Oregon#27071 in 2,568
Washington#39771 in 4,472
Arizona#41271 in 3,888
Virginia#43071 in 5,402
Massachusetts#43251 in 7,845
Ohio#450101 in 7,549
Tennessee#46551 in 6,263
Pennsylvania#52681 in 9,652
North Carolina#58751 in 8,177
California#597281 in 8,154
Texas#633191 in 7,701
Georgia#64551 in 8,837
Florida#88951 in 15,284
New York#88981 in 15,274
Alabama———
Alaska———
Arkansas———
Colorado———
Connecticut———
Delaware———
District of Columbia———
Hawaii———
Idaho———
Illinois———
Indiana———
Iowa———
Kansas———
Kentucky———
Louisiana———
Maine———
Maryland———
Michigan———
Minnesota———
Mississippi———
Missouri———
Montana———
Nebraska———
Nevada———
New Hampshire———
New Jersey———
New Mexico———
North Dakota———
Oklahoma———
Rhode Island———
South Carolina———
South Dakota———
Utah———
Vermont———
West Virginia———
Wisconsin———
Wyoming———

Ranks are within each state; “1 in N” is out of the boys born there that year. The SSA only publishes a name in a state when 5 or more babies of one sex got it.

See more about Galen
Momentum · boys
Falling
  • 1,646 spots since 2024 (#2,750 → #4,396)
  • 1,668 spots since 2020 (#2,728 → #4,396)
  • 1,796 spots since 2015 (#2,600 → #4,396)
  • Biggest jump: 509 spots in 1912 (#1,190 → #681)
  • Biggest drop: 306 spots in 1896 (#795 → #1,101)
Rise & fade · boys
60 yrs to peak
  • Debuted 1889
  • Peaked 1949 at #329 (433 births)
  • Births halved by 1962, 13 yrs later
Top of the charts · boys
Top 1,000 for 90 yrs
  • Top 10: never
  • Top 100: never
  • Top 1,000: 90 yrs · run 1912–1996
Share of babies · boys
1 in 4,097
  • Highest: 1 in 4,097 boys born in 1949 were named Galen (0.02%)
  • Latest: 1 in 74,264 boys born in 2025 (0.00%)
Era · boys
The 1950s
  • 17.8% of all boys named Galen (2,938) were born in this decade
Show by decade
DecadeBirthsBest rankAvg rank
1880s6#878 (1889)#878
1890s24#795 (1895)#987
1900s52#798 (1906)#1,036
1910s519#645 (1914)#782
1920s1,039#527 (1929)#621
1930s1,352#438 (1939)#498
1940s2,445#329 (1949)#413
1950s2,938#351 (1951)#429
1960s1,957#525 (1961)#557
1970s1,642#556 (1970)#649
1980s1,542#661 (1986)#724
1990s1,447#766 (1990)#922
2000s791#1,175 (2000)#1,791
2010s497#2,175 (2014)#2,595
2020s249#2,616 (2022)#3,074

All figures count published births only (names given to at least 5 boys in a year). Registrations before 1937 are incomplete, so early shares and totals run low.

Galen in 1986

girls
#7,749
8 births · 1 in 214,443 girls
boys
#661
184 births · 1 in 10,008 boys

Top girls' names in 1986

  1. #1Jessica52,682
  2. #2Ashley49,671
  3. #3Amanda40,532
  4. #4Jennifer36,187
  5. #5Sarah28,163
  6. #6Stephanie22,651
  7. #7Nicole21,292
  8. #8Brittany20,313
  9. #9Heather19,790
  10. #10Elizabeth19,074
  11. #7,749Galen8

Top boys' names in 1986

  1. #1Michael64,235
  2. #2Christopher56,693
  3. #3Matthew46,929
  4. #4Joshua37,542
  5. #5David37,150
  6. #6Daniel36,573
  7. #7James34,057
  8. #8Andrew33,858
  9. #9Robert31,350
  10. #10John30,209
  11. #661Galen184
More about 1986

girls

1,715,547 girls got a published name in 1986; 1 in 214,443 of them was named Galen, which outranked 39.6% of the 12,836 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 18.1% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Galen
  1. #7,134Zeinab9
  2. #7,134Zelma9
  3. #7,134Zora9
  4. #7,749Galen8
  5. #7,749Aamber8
  6. #7,749Abbigayle8
  7. #7,749Abigael8
  8. #8,523Aaisha7
  9. #8,523Abagael7
  10. #8,523Abbygail7

Tied with 773 names at #7,749; 3 shown. Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.

Biggest movers since 1985
Risers
  1. ↑ 9,719Kyrie#10,677 → #958
  2. ↑ 4,778Sable#5,678 → #900
  3. ↑ 2,034Eliana#2,484 → #450
  4. ↑ 1,497Shatara#2,484 → #987
  5. ↑ 1,374Cherrelle#2,253 → #879
Fallers
  1. ↓ 442Violeta#963 → #1,405
  2. ↓ 361Micaela#545 → #906
  3. ↓ 361Tasia#572 → #933
  4. ↓ 324Jo#925 → #1,249
  5. ↓ 306Tammie#987 → #1,293

Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.

boys

1,841,515 boys got a published name in 1986; 1 in 10,008 of them was named Galen, which outranked 91.6% of the 7,830 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 22.2% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Galen
  1. #655Ron186
  2. #659Luther185
  3. #659Santos185
  4. #661Galen184
  5. #661Rico184
  6. #663Kiel183
  7. #663Royce183
  8. #665Carter182

Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.

Biggest movers since 1985
Risers
  1. ↑ 1,279Spenser#2,226 → #947
  2. ↑ 920Jayce#1,614 → #694
  3. ↑ 714Addison#1,228 → #514
  4. ↑ 649Payton#1,614 → #965
  5. ↑ 573Cordell#1,181 → #608
Fallers
  1. ↓ 409Ulises#877 → #1,286
  2. ↓ 365Eliot#934 → #1,299
  3. ↓ 322Jordy#998 → #1,320
  4. ↓ 313Trace#956 → #1,269
  5. ↓ 292Kennith#963 → #1,255

Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.

See the top 100 for 1986 →