How Many People Are Named Galen?

Complete statistics for the name Galen: rarity score, gender breakdown, age distribution, historical popularity, worldwide data, meaning and origin.

Galen
Very Rare
Greek

Galen means 'oak tree' in Greek, making it a strong, nature-inspired choice. Only 1 in 29,006 Americans are named Galen, with around 11,377 living today, showing just how rare it is. The majority of people named Galen are over 60, reflecting its status as an old-school classic.

~668
Living in US
1 in 496,182
Americans
1949
Peak Year

📖 Meaning & Origin

💬
Meaning
Oak tree
🌐
Origin
Greek
🔢
Numerology
Life Path 3
Personality Traits
Strong Wise Reliable
3
Life Path Number

Traditionally, the life-path number 3 represents creativity and self-expression.

🌍 Worldwide Usage

11,377
Worldwide Bearers
#28,166
Global Rank
🇷🇺 Russia
32
🇮🇪 Ireland
29
🇩🇪 Germany
26
🇦🇺 Australia
23
🇸🇬 Singapore
19
🇹🇭 Thailand
17
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Scotland
14
🇵🇬 Papua New Guinea
12
🇧🇷 Brazil
11
🇳🇱 Netherlands
11

⚥ Gender Distribution

♂ Male
10,872 (96%)
♀ Female
505 (4%)

📊 Births by Age Group

Avg Cohort Age: 63
1,959
Would be under 30 (11%)
5,289
Would be 30–60 (31%)
9,788
Would be over 60 (57%)

All 17,036 recorded US births for this name, grouped by the age those individuals would be today. Not adjusted for survival, so the number living today is lower (see the living estimate above).

📈 Popularity Over Time

Peak: 1949

Annual US births from SSA records  ·  Trend: Slowly declining

🏆 Name Scorecard

Popularity
98
Classic Feel
76
Modern Appeal
24
International
5

Scores 0–100 based on statistical analysis of US and worldwide name frequency

📜 Galen Through the Generations

Galen has been a steady presence through the generations, peaking in popularity in 1949 with 441 births. Today, there are 11,377 people named Galen living in the U.S., with a notable age skew towards those over 60. This trend suggests that while Galen remains a cherished name, it's slowly declining in usage among younger parents.

📍 State Distribution (Top 10)

Pennsylvania 1,427
California 1,243
Kansas 1,047
Ohio 816
Iowa 682
Texas 634
Illinois 478
Minnesota 447
Missouri 429
Maine 372

⭐ Famous People Named Galen

Galen is an almost exclusively masculine given name. The best-known Galen was a Greek physician, surgeon and philosopher in Ancient Rome. Other Galens include:…

Full list on Wikipedia →

✨ Similar Names to Galen

🌿 Related Names by Origin

Other names sharing Galen's Greek roots

📄 About the Name Galen

How Many People Have the Name Galen?

Based on Social Security Administration birth records and age-adjusted survival modeling, approximately 668 people in the United States currently share the name Galen. That works out to roughly 1 in every 496,182 Americans, placing it in the Very Rare category.

Is Galen a Common or Rare Name?

Galen is classified as Very Rare. The rarity scale runs from Very Common (shared by millions) through Common, Uncommon, Rare, and Very Rare. Understanding where a name sits helps parents gauge uniqueness, genealogists narrow down records, and individuals settle debates about their own name's distinctiveness.

What Does the Name Galen Mean?

Galen means "oak tree" and comes from Greek origins. The name carries a life-path numerology number of 3.

Gender Breakdown

Of all recorded bearers of Galen in SSA data, approximately 96% are male and 4% are female.

When Was Galen Most Popular?

The name Galen reached peak popularity in 1949, with 441 babies registered that year. Current trend: Slowly declining.

How Is This Data Calculated?

All figures are statistical estimates, not exact government headcounts. The underlying data comes from the SSA National Baby Names dataset. Full methodology is explained on the methodology page.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

How many people are named Galen?

Approximately 668 people named Galen live in the United States today. All-time US births on record total 668. That works out to roughly 1 in 496,182 Americans.

Is Galen a rare name?

Galen is classified as Very Rare in the United States. Approximately 1 in every 496,182 Americans has this name.

What does the name Galen mean?

Galen means "oak tree" and comes from Greek origins.

Is Galen more male or female?

Based on SSA records, 96% of people named Galen are male and 4% are female.

When was Galen most popular?

Galen peaked in 1949 with 441 births that year. Current trend: Slowly declining.

How accurate are these statistics?

All figures are statistical estimates based on SSA birth records and age-adjusted modeling. See the methodology page for full details.

Disclaimer: All results are statistical estimates based on aggregated SSA birth records and modeling. Not exact counts of individuals. Data source: SSA National Baby Names dataset.
Quick Stats
Living in US668
All-Time Births668
1 in X1 in 496,182
RarityVery Rare
GenderMale
Avg Age63
Peak Year1949
World Rank#28,166
Male %96%
Female %4%

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Data Source

Powered by the SSA National Baby Names dataset, birth registrations from 1880 to present.

All counts are statistical estimates. See the methodology page.