Find out how popular the first name Glenn has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Glenn by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Glenn is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 99% of people named Glenn being male.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 109 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Glenn.

The history of the first name Glenn

The name Glenn has its origins in the Scottish Gaelic language, deriving from the Gaelic word "gleann," which translates to "valley" or "glen." It is believed to have emerged as a surname in Scotland during the Middle Ages, referring to someone who lived in or near a valley or glen.

The earliest recorded use of Glenn as a given name dates back to the late 16th century in Scotland. One of the earliest documented individuals with this name was Glenn Telfer, a Scottish poet who lived in the late 16th and early 17th centuries.

In the 17th century, the name gained popularity in Ireland, where it was often anglicized as "Glenn" from the Irish Gaelic version "Gleann." One notable figure from this period was Glenn Lough, an Irish poet and historian who lived in the late 17th century.

As the name spread to other parts of the world, it became associated with various individuals of note. In the 18th century, Glenn Scobie was a Scottish artist known for his landscape paintings depicting the glens and valleys of Scotland.

In the 19th century, the name gained further recognition with the birth of Glenn Cunningham (1909-1988), an American athlete who overcame numerous physical challenges to become a world-renowned distance runner and Olympic medalist.

Another prominent figure bearing the name Glenn was John Glenn (1921-2016), an American aviator, astronaut, and United States Senator. He was the first American to orbit the Earth, aboard the Friendship 7 spacecraft in 1962, and later became the oldest person to travel in space at the age of 77.

Throughout history, the name Glenn has been associated with individuals from various walks of life, including artists, writers, athletes, and explorers, all connected by the name's roots in the Scottish Gaelic word for "valley" or "glen."

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Glenn was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Glenn, please contact us.

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