Glen vs Glenn
Glen and Glenncompared 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 1983, Glen was ranked #79 and Glenn #100 among boys in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1986, Glen was ranked #91 and Glenn #99 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Norway · Boys
In 1998, Glen was ranked #558 and Glenn #192 among boys in Norway.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2008, Glen was ranked #378 and Glenn #266 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Glen was ranked #676 and Glenn #829 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Glen was ranked #3688 and Glenn #5119 among boys in England and Wales.
Glen and Glenn over time
Glen and Glenn appear together in 6 published lists, across 168 years of shared records. Glenn held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Glen in 2.
The order between them changed and held in 4 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Glenn reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, and Glen in none. 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 1983, Glen moved ahead of Glenn in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #73 and #63 the year before became #70 and #81.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Glen and Glenn changed places 11 times in England and Wales · Boys between 1996 and 2024, ending at #3688 and #5119.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 34 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Glen and Glenn averaged 16.6 places apart, ending at #91 and #99.
- Longest-running competitions
Glen and Glenn were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Boys for 34 years, from 1952 to 1986, ending at #91 and #99.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Glen #281 in 1996, Glenn #278 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys52 shared years, 1964–2025
Glen held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Glenn in 21.
Highest recorded here: Glen #83 in 1993, Glenn #92 in 1992.
The order changed in 2020: Glen moved ahead. In 2019 they stood at #764 and #506; by 2020 that had become #556 and #741.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Glen #676, Glenn #829.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys34 shared years, 1952–1986
Glen held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Glenn in 29.
Highest recorded here: Glen #32 in 1963, Glenn #16 in 1962.
The order changed in 1983: Glen moved ahead. In 1982 they stood at #73 and #63; by 1983 that had become #70 and #81.
Most recent shared year, 1986: Glen #91, Glenn #99.
England and Wales · Boys27 shared years, 1996–2024
Glen held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Glenn in 9.
Highest recorded here: Glen #281 in 1996, Glenn #278 in 1996.
The order changed in 2023: Glen moved ahead. In 2022 they stood at #4789 and #2730; by 2023 that had become #2325 and #4991.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Glen #3688, Glenn #5119.
Norway · Boys24 shared years, 1962–1998
Glen held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Glenn in 24.
Highest recorded here: Glen #331 in 1982, Glenn #57 in 1974.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1998: Glen #558, Glenn #192.
New Zealand · Boys20 shared years, 1963–1983
Glen held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Glenn in 12.
Highest recorded here: Glen #29 in 1975, Glenn #28 in 1971.
The order changed in 1975: Glen moved ahead. In 1974 they stood at #37 and #28; by 1975 that had become #29 and #36.
Most recent shared year, 1983: Glen #79, Glenn #100.
Northern Ireland · Boys11 shared years, 1997–2008
Glen held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Glenn in 11.
Highest recorded here: Glen #129 in 1997, Glenn #104 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2008: Glen #378, Glenn #266.
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 | Glen | Glenn |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | |
| Syllables | 1 | 1 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #676 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #829 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Glen and Glenn both have 1 syllable.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
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 #676 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Glenn
Popularity journey
First recorded1948
First recorded at #329 among boys in Norway in 1948 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1952–1986
Highest recorded position: #16 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1962 (recorded 1952–1986).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #829 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys