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Glenn

Boy name · 515 babies recorded · 1974–2025

Glenn: 515 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to boys, peaking at 35 births in 1993.

Of Gaelic origin, Glenn is a name that literally means "valley" or "narrow glen," drawn from the Scottish Gaelic *gleann*. It began as a topographic surname before transitioning to a first name, particularly popular in the mid-20th century. The most famous bearer is undoubtedly American astronaut and senator John Glenn, the first American to orbit the Earth, whose name became synonymous with pioneering space exploration. The name also belongs to jazz pianist Glenn Gould, a Canadian virtuoso known for his eccentric genius. Countless Scottish glens share the name's root, from Glen Coe to the Great Glen, though these are places named for the landscape itself rather than any individual. A notable variant is the Welsh *Glyn*, which carries the same valley meaning.