Galen
Galen is a boys' name of Greek origin meaning “calm; healer; one who is tranquil.” Derived from the Greek Galenos, meaning calm or tranquil.
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how do you pronounce Galen?
GAY-len
where does the name Galen come from?
From the Greek Galēnos, meaning calm or tranquil. The surname Galen is separate: a reduced form of van Galen, or a variant of Galyon or Gallon.
Borne by the influential 2nd-century Greek physician Galen of Pergamon, whose medical writings shaped Western medicine for over a thousand years.
how popular is this name?
Galen has appeared in the US top 1,000 in 90 years since 1889, and fell outside it for 18. It peaked at #329 in 1949, and ranked #914 in 1996.
See the milestone years
| Year | Rank |
|---|---|
| 1996 | #914 |
| 1995 | #887 |
| 1994 | #881 |
| 1993 | #858 |
| 1992 | #867 |
| 1991 | #827 |
| 1990 | #766 |
| 1989 | #782 |
| 1988 | #778 |
| 1987 | #712 |
| 1980 | #694 |
| 1970 | #556 |
| 1960 | #533 |
| 1950 | #374 |
| 1949 | #329 |
| 1940 | #443 |
| 1930 | #591 |
| 1920 | #721 |
| 1910 | #928 |
| 1889 | #878 |
Source: SSA National Baby Names Dataset (through 2025). Years absent from the table are years Galen fell outside the top 1,000.
the history of Galen
An almost exclusively masculine name, Galen is best known from the Greek physician, surgeon and philosopher of Ancient Rome.
who are famous people named Galen?
- Galen of Pergamon (ancient physician)
- Galen Rupp (distance runner)
what names are similar to Galen?
what names go well with Galen?
Sibling names that share Galen's rhythm and register without echoing it too closely.
quick answers about Galen
What does the name Galen mean?
Galen means “calm; healer; one who is tranquil”.
What is the origin of the name Galen?
Galen comes from the Greek naming tradition.
How popular is the name Galen?
Galen ranked #914 in the US in 1996, according to Social Security data. Its best year was 1949, at #329, and it has spent 90 years in the top 1,000 since 1889.
Is Galen a boy or girl name?
Galen is primarily a boys' name.
How do you pronounce Galen?
Galen is pronounced GAY-len, with 2 syllables.
Last updated · Curated by HushName editorial
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