Darren vs Glen
Darren and Glencompared on official birth-registration statistics and Namewise's recorded data. This page states what each name's record shows — it never picks a winner or scores one name against the other.
Head to head
Ranks are only compared within one published list and one year. Two ranks from different years, from a boys' and a girls' list, or from different registrars are not comparable, so they are not placed side by side.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1982, Darren was ranked #83 and Glen #66 among boys in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1986, Darren was ranked #74 and Glen #91 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2008, Darren was ranked #152 and Glen #378 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Darren was ranked #535 and Glen #307 among boys in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Darren was ranked #676 and Glen #676 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2025, Darren was ranked #1066 and Glen #3684 among boys in England and Wales.
Darren and Glen over time
Darren and Glen appear together in 5 published lists, across 142 years of shared records. Darren held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Glen in 0.
The order between them changed and held in one of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Darren reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, Glen in 1. Each position is a place inside its own list, so this compares when they peaked and never how high.
Counted list by list. Two names in the same published list are measured on the same scale in the same year, so those comparisons are real — but positions from different lists are not, so nothing here is combined into an overall standing.
How this pair is related
The relationship kinds these two qualify for, each under its own stated rule. Every one is drawn from a list they both appear in.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1984, Darren moved ahead of Glen in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #71 and #70 the year before became #69 and #77.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 26 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Darren and Glen averaged 20.6 places apart, ending at #74 and #91.
- Longest-running competitions
Darren and Glen were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #1066 and #3684.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Darren #123 in 1996, Glen #281 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys56 shared years, 1966–2025
Darren held the stronger position in 55 of those years, Glen in 0.
Highest recorded here: Darren #18 in 1988, Glen #83 in 1993.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Darren #676, Glen #676.
England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025
Darren held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Glen in 0.
Highest recorded here: Darren #123 in 1996, Glen #281 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Darren #1066, Glen #3684.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys26 shared years, 1960–1986
Darren held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Glen in 4.
Highest recorded here: Darren #10 in 1966, Glen #32 in 1963.
The order changed in 1984: Darren moved ahead. In 1983 they stood at #71 and #70; by 1984 that had become #69 and #77.
Most recent shared year, 1986: Darren #74, Glen #91.
New Zealand · Boys18 shared years, 1964–1982
Darren held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Glen in 9.
Highest recorded here: Darren #13 in 1965, Glen #29 in 1975.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1982: Darren #83, Glen #66.
Northern Ireland · Boys12 shared years, 1997–2008
Darren held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Glen in 0.
Highest recorded here: Darren #52 in 1997, Glen #129 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2008: Darren #152, Glen #378.
Two names moving past each other in a ranking is a fact about the ranking. Namewise does not claim one name displaced the other, that families chose between them, or that either influenced the other — none of that is in this data.
Side by side
| Field | Darren | Glen |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Exact meaning uncertain — may derive from a rare Irish surname, or be a variant of Darrell. Popularized in the late 1950s by actor Darren McGavin and in the 1960s by the character Darrin Stephens from Bewitched. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Uncertain (possibly Irish surname, or a variant of Darrell) | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈdæɹ.ən/ | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 2 | 1 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #676 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #676 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Darren has a recorded origin (Uncertain (possibly Irish surname, or a variant of Darrell)); Glen does not have one recorded yet.
- Darren has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Glen.
- A meaning is recorded for Darren; Glen doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Darren
Popularity journey
First recorded1960
First recorded at #83 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1960 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Highest recorded1960–1989
Highest recorded position: #10 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1966 (recorded 1960–1989).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #1066 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys
Glen
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #92 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1952 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Highest recorded1963–1985
Highest recorded position: #29 among boys in New Zealand, in 1975 (recorded 1963–1985).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #3684 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys