Total births
156
Unisex name · since 1982
Gaelen
Gaelen has 156 recorded births since 1982 in federal Social Security data, most heavily in 1996 -- full year-by-year trend, decade aggregates, and state rankings follow.
- 156
- total births
- 1982–2008
- years on record
- 1990s
- peak decade
- 49%
- born in that decade
Gaelen sits outside today's top ranks for boys, with 156 recorded since 1982.
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Gaelen has been recorded 156 times among boys since 1982, though it is not among the currently most-used boys names, with its heaviest use in the 1990s. This profile covers year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution, all derived directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1982 to 2008.
- 156 total births
- 1982–2008 years on record
- 1990s peak decade
- 49% born in that decade
Data updated Jun 2026
The verdict
156 boys have been named Gaelen since 1982, peaking in the 1990s, last recorded in 2008.
- 156
- total births
- 1982–2008
- years on record
- 1990s
- peak decade
- 49%
- born in that decade
1990s
Peak decade
49% of everyone ever named Gaelen was born in this single decade.
1996
Single peak year
14 babies were named Gaelen in 1996 - its busiest year on record.
Gaelen's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Divide Gaelen's SSA record in two at 1996 and the more recent half accounts for 49% of all births, the earlier half the remaining 51%, a genuinely balanced usage pattern. Its calmest year was 1982, with only 5 births recorded -- set against the 1996 peak of 14, that's the full swing in one name's fortunes.
Gaelen at a glance
Last recorded 2008Peak year
1996
Current rank
Unranked
Active since
1982
Gaelen popularity over time - boys
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1982–2008
- Peak year (1996)
- 14
- Annual births at peak, across 27 years of records
Gaelen popularity over time - girls
18 total births recorded since 1967 (Gaelen as girls' name)
Gaelen by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
1990s was Gaelen's strongest decade.
77 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 49% of all-time use.
Gaelen births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1980s
1980s
40 births
- 1990s
1990s
77 births
- 2000s
2000s
39 births
What this shows Peak: 1990s at 77 births (49% of all-time use).
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Gaelen? ▼
Since 1982, Social Security records show 156 babies named Gaelen. The most recent recorded year was 2008. Its busiest year on record was 1996, with 14 births.
When was Gaelen most popular? ▼
Gaelen was most popular in the 1990s decade with 77 total births. The single peak year was 1996.
Is Gaelen a unisex name? ▼
Yes, Gaelen is used for both boys and girls. As a boy's name it has 156 births, and as a girl's name it has 18 births.
How long has the name Gaelen been used? ▼
Records for Gaelen go back to 1982, giving 27 years of history through 2008.
What names are similar to Gaelen? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Gael, Gaetano, Gaelan, Gaetan, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for boys.
What to do with Gaelen's data
- Gaelen's usage has stayed within range of its 1990s decade-level peak (77 total births) through the 2000s (39) -- a comparatively stable name, not a fading trend.
- Weighing it against an alternative? Put two names side by side. Compare names
Figures reflect SSA-reported births only; see the methodology above for the privacy-suppression floor.
Keep exploring Gaelen
Nearby Names Like Gaelen
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Gaelen
Gael Boy
#89 49,079 births
Gaetano Boy
#4714 3,861 births
Gaelan Boy
131 births
Gaetan Boy
113 births
Gaege Boy
66 births
Compare Gaelen side by side: Gaelen vs Gael Gaelen vs Gaetano Gaelen vs Gaelan
Related Names
Names with a similar number of total births
Data Sources
Data as of June 2026. Source: U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA).
According to the Social Security Administration, this profile draws directly from the agency's public-use baby-name files (updated June 2026). See our methodology for the full extraction, aggregation, and privacy-suppression rules.
Primary: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names from Social Security Card Applications, National Data, 1982–2008 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Gaelen: Baby Name Since 1982 - 156 Births, Peak 1996." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/gaelen. Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Name Almanac is rendered directly from the Social Security Administration's public baby-name files, no number is typed in by an editor. This profile for Gaelen draws directly on SSA national and state-level files, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.