Galen
2025 SSA
Below 5 births
About Galen
Many will associate this name with Galen of Pergamon, the second-century physician considered to be the founding father of medicine. A more recent reference is Star Wars character Galen Erso. The name still projects a gentle, scholarly image, while sharing sounds with more popular names like Aiden and Nathan. Bonus: it's also an anagram of Angel.
Galen for girls
The final n makes this choice infinitely more modern than Gail.
Pronounced GAY-len.
As of October 2026, Galen ranked #4442 in US births in 2025 SSA, peaked at #329 in 1949, Nameberry popularity #694.
Popularity & trends
Data table
| Year | US rank · boys | Births · boys | US rank · girls | Births · girls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | #2,183 | 62 | — | 0 |
| 2015 | #2,619 | 47 | — | 0 |
| 2016 | #3,467 | 32 | — | 0 |
| 2017 | #2,357 | 55 | — | 0 |
| 2018 | #2,329 | 57 | — | 0 |
| 2019 | #2,634 | 49 | — | 0 |
| 2020 | #2,738 | 45 | — | 0 |
| 2021 | #2,788 | 45 | — | 0 |
| 2022 | #2,626 | 51 | — | 0 |
| 2023 | #3,191 | 38 | — | 0 |
| 2024 | #2,753 | 47 | — | 0 |
| 2025 | #4,442 | 23 | — | 0 |
World rankings
Galen for boys
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Galen on lists
Famous Galens
- Galen (born Aelius Galenus)Boy
Roman philosopher
- Galen Laius GeringBoy
American actor
- Galen RuppBoy
American Olympic distance runner
- Galen Avery RowellBoy
American landscape photographer
- Galen Samuel HallBoy
American college football coach
- Conchata Galen FerrellGirl
American actress
- Galen HooksGirl
Dancer and Choreographer
Galen in pop culture
- GalenBoy
character in Jessica Day George's "Princess of the Midnight Ball"
- GalenBoy
character in "The Search for Delicious" by Natalie Babbitt
- Galen TyrolBoy
character on TV's "Battlestar Galactica"
- Galen VaughanBoy
minor character in The Vampire Diaries series
- Galen Marek (Starkiller)Boy
character in the Star Wars video game and novel "The Force Unleashed"
- GalenBoy
technomage on TV's "Babylon 5"
- Galen DeMarcoBoy
character in Judge Dredd comics
- Galen Doc AdamsBoy
character on TV's "Gunsmoke"
- GalenBoy
the assistant of Dr. Zaius in the Planet of the Apes series
- GalenBoy
character on TV's "Roar"
- GalenBoy
character in Of Poseidon (book)
- Professor Richard GalenBoy
Captain Jean,Luc Picard's archaeology professor in Star Trek: The Next Generation
- Galen ErsoBoy
character in "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story"