Jalen
Boy name · #443 in 2025 · Distinctive
How old is the name Jalen? In official American birth records, Jalen has been tracked continuously since 1976, giving it 49 years of documented American history.
In 2025, 711 baby boys were named Jalen, placing it at #443 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #590, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 2,532 boys born in 2025 was named Jalen.
Babies named Jalen per year. Source: Official national birth records.
The 49-year story
Jalen first appears in the Social Security records in 1976, when 5 boys received the name. Its peak came in 2000, when 3,513 boys were named Jalen — good for #106 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Jalen against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Jalen in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Jalen is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "distinctive". That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Jalen is most common
Geography matters for names, and Jalen is no exception. Adjusted for how many boys are born in each state, Jalen is most common in PA (1 per 1,000), NJ (0.8 per 1,000), MD (0.8 per 1,000), NY (0.7 per 1,000), AL (0.7 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 0.5 per 1,000 boys. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Jalen is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Names like Jalen
Statistically, parents drawn to Jalen tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Jaylen, Jaden, Dalton, Javon, and Devin.
JaylenJadenDaltonJavonDevinJakeCollinDonovan
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Jalen | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 711 | #442 |
| 2024 | 661 | #467 |
| 2023 | 726 | #429 |
| 2022 | 571 | #519 |
| 2021 | 568 | #516 |
| 2020 | 520 | #547 |
| 2019 | 539 | #531 |
| 2018 | 504 | #551 |
| 2017 | 451 | #599 |
| 2016 | 482 | #575 |
| 2015 | 468 | #590 |
| 2014 | 487 | #572 |
| 2013 | 544 | #501 |
| 2012 | 581 | #470 |
| 2011 | 707 | #401 |
| 2010 | 720 | #394 |
| 2009 | 850 | #361 |
| 2008 | 1,054 | #316 |
| 2007 | 1,282 | #268 |
| 2006 | 1,591 | #228 |
| 2005 | 1,708 | #212 |
| 2004 | 2,022 | #190 |
| 2003 | 2,620 | #155 |
| 2002 | 2,686 | #145 |
| 2001 | 3,121 | #127 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Jalen?
In official American birth records, the name Jalen first appeared in 1976 (over 49 years ago), when 5 newborn boys received the name. It has been tracked in modern national records for 49 years.
Is Jalen a popular boy name?
Jalen ranked #443 among boys in 2025 with 711 babies given the name — inside the top 500: established but not ubiquitous. Ten years earlier it ranked #590.
When was the name Jalen most popular?
Jalen peaked in 2000, when 3,513 American boys received the name (ranked #106 that year). Since 2000 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Jalen?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 2,532 newborn American boys was named Jalen. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "distinctive".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.