Given name & surname · also Gaelic
Glenn
“from the valley between the hills”·“from the secluded narrow valley”
Glenn is a variant of Glenna. One interpretation is “from the valley between the hills.” Glenn is a variant of Glen. One interpretation is “from the secluded narrow valley.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
Glenn is a variant of Glenna. One interpretation is “from the valley between the hills.” Glenn is a variant of Glen. One interpretation is “from the secluded narrow valley.”
Explained through its name family
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1880. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Glenn through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 250,778
- 248,642 boys · 2,136 girls
- Most popular year
- 1962
- 7,389 babies
- 2025
- 124
- #1,443 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −13%
- Easing
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 124 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 1,443 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was 12.8% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for boys was 7,356 in 1962. In 2025, Florida had the largest reported state-level birth count for boys with this name (9). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 145,760 as a first name in 2020; 48,549 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Glenn’s family of names
Glenn has a related form in Glen. In English usage, Glenn has a related form in Glen. Glenn has a related form in Glenna.
The ring: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 3
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
People named Glenn
- Glenn CloseAmerican actress (born 1947)
- Glenn T. SeaborgAmerican chemist (1912–1999)
- Glenn GouldCanadian composer and pianist (1932–1982)
- Glenn FordCanadian-American actor (1916–2006)
- Glenn FreyAmerican rock musician (1948–2016)
- KaneAmerican professional wrestler, actor, and politicianborn 1967
- Glenn HoddleEnglish footballer and managerborn 1957
- Glenn GreenwaldAmerican journalist, lawyer and writer (born 1967)
- Glenn BeckAmerican conservative political commentatorborn 1967
Characters named Glenn: Glenn Quagmire (the animated series Family Guy), Glenn Rhee (Walking Dead character), Glenn Talbot (Marvel Comics).
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Glenn, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Darren
“a great man” · “a gift from God”
>99% boys
Kelvin
“a friend of ships; a man of the river”
>99% boys
Dwayne
“a dark or swarthy man”
>99% boys
Gregor
“watchful” · “one who is vigilant; watch-”
>99% boys
Kenny
“born of fire” · “handsome, fair one”
98% boys · 2% girls
Craig
“from the rocks; from the crag”
>99% boys
Barry
“a fair-haired man”
>99% boys
Glendon
“from the town in the glen”
>99% boys