Total births
482
Boys' name · since 1997
Zalen
482 babies named Zalen in U.S. Social Security records since 1997, with the highest year being 2024. Year-by-year trend, decade aggregates, and state-level rankings drawn from federal birth data.
- #2552
- among boys today
- 482
- born since 1997
- 2010s
- peak decade
- 82%
- more common than other boys
Zalen currently ranks #2552 among boys' names in America, with 482 babies recorded since 1997.
Social Security Administration records show Zalen recorded 482 times among boys since 1997, holding rank #2552 nationally today, ahead of 82% of boys, peaking in the 2010s. This profile derives year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1997 to 2025.
- #2552 among boys today
- 482 born since 1997
- 2010s peak decade
- 82% more common than other boys
Data updated Jun 2026
The verdict
Zalen is currently the #2552 boys' name in America, more common than 82% of boys - 482 born since 1997, peaking in the 2010s.
- #2552
- among boys today
- 482
- born since 1997
- 2010s
- peak decade
- 82%
- more common than other boys
Zalen vs. every other boys name in current SSA rankings
#2552
of 14,294 boys in use
More common than 82% of names given to boys today.
2010s
Peak decade
44% of everyone ever named Zalen was born in this single decade.
2024
Single peak year
53 babies were named Zalen in 2024 - its busiest year on record.
How Zalen compares
482 Top 44% higher than 56% of 14,294 names currently given to boys
Based on all-time total births among currently-ranked boys names. Names with fewer occurrences are grouped into wider buckets on the right.
Source U.S. Social Security Administration, national baby name data
How the numbers stack up
Zalen's all-time total is 31% above the median boys name, and Liam still leads by a wide margin.
| Metric | Zalen | Median boys name (Elchonon) | #1 boys name (Liam) |
|---|---|---|---|
| All-time total births | 482 | 367 | 358,536 |
| Peak-year births | 53 | 23 | 22,252 |
Zalen's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Splitting Zalen's full recorded timeline at 2012, 60% of its total births fall in the more recent half of the record versus 40% in the earlier half -- usage has skewed toward the present, not a one-decade spike. Its quietest year on record was 1997, with just 6 recorded births -- worth weighing against the 2024 peak of 53 to see the full range of the name's swing in popularity.
Zalen at a glance
Outside the top 1,000Peak year
2024
Current rank
#2,552
Active since
1997
Zalen popularity over time
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1997–2025
- Peak year (2024)
- 53
- Annual births at peak, across 29 years of records
Zalen by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
2010s was Zalen's strongest decade.
213 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 44% of all-time use.
Zalen births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1990s 6
1990s
6 births
- 2000s
2000s
134 births
- 2010s
2010s
213 births
- 2020s
2020s
129 births
What this shows Peak: 2010s at 213 births (44% of all-time use).
Zalen by state
Where Zalen concentrates geographically, total births since 1997
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | North Carolina | | 11 | 2.3% |
| #2 | Texas | | 10 | 2.1% |
| #3 | California | | 8 | 1.7% |
| #4 | Florida | | 5 | 1.0% |
| #5 | Mississippi | | 5 | 1.0% |
North Carolina share of Zalen's total US births 2.3%
Even split
11 of 482 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 5 reporting states.
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Zalen? ▼
482 babies have been named Zalen since 1997. It currently ranks #2552 among boys. The peak year was 2024 with 53 births.
When was Zalen most popular? ▼
Zalen was most popular in the 2010s decade with 213 total births. The single peak year was 2024.
Where is Zalen most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Zalen are North Carolina (11 births), Texas (10 births), California (8 births).
How long has the name Zalen been used? ▼
Records for Zalen go back to 1997, giving 29 years of history through 2025.
What names are similar to Zalen? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Zalman, Zalmen, Zale, Zalyn, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for boys.
What to do with Zalen's data
- Zalen's usage has stayed within range of its 2010s decade-level peak (213 total births) through the 2020s (129) -- a comparatively stable name, not a fading trend.
- North Carolina records the most Zalens (11 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. North Carolina names
- 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 Zalen
Nearby Names Like Zalen
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Zalen
Zalman Boy
#4345 687 births
Zalmen Boy
#3297 682 births
Zale Boy
#7331 188 births
Zalyn Boy
#11610 103 births
Zalan Boy
#13227 77 births
Compare Zalen side by side: Zalen vs Zalman Zalen vs Zalmen Zalen vs Zale
Related Names
Names with a similar popularity rank to Zalen
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, 1997–2025 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Zalen: #2552 Boys' Name - 482 Births, Peak 2024." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/zalen. 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 Zalen 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.