Cullen
A male given name transferred from the surname.
Every Cullen since 1880 — 16,703 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Cullen
Cullen is uncommon for boys in the United States, ranked #1,108 in 2025 with 194 babies given the name. It is currently declining compared with a decade ago.
Since 1880, 16,703 American babies have been named Cullen. Its peak came in 2010, when 685 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 2010s.
The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Cullen stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Cullen year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Girls | Girls rank | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 6 | #13,590 | 194 | #1,108 |
| 2024 | — | — | 189 | #1,127 |
| 2023 | — | — | 219 | #1,003 |
| 2022 | — | — | 258 | #901 |
| 2021 | — | — | 342 | #745 |
| 2020 | — | — | 370 | #688 |
| 2019 | — | — | 411 | #650 |
| 2018 | — | — | 464 | #590 |
| 2017 | — | — | 556 | #519 |
| 2016 | — | — | 529 | #546 |
| 2015 | 5 | #17,045 | 492 | #570 |
| 2014 | 5 | #17,165 | 447 | #604 |
| 2013 | 8 | #12,256 | 447 | #575 |
| 2012 | 8 | #12,481 | 474 | #549 |
| 2011 | 6 | #15,263 | 568 | #472 |
| 2010 | 6 | #15,410 | 679 | #413 |
| 2009 | 5 | #17,944 | 562 | #485 |
| 2008 | — | — | 283 | #782 |
| 2007 | — | — | 286 | #768 |
| 2006 | — | — | 260 | #792 |
| 2005 | — | — | 278 | #728 |
| 2004 | — | — | 270 | #710 |
| 2003 | — | — | 284 | #682 |
| 2002 | — | — | 318 | #619 |
| 2001 | — | — | 336 | #593 |
| 2000 | 6 | #13,551 | 363 | #567 |
| 1995 | 7 | #10,761 | 400 | #509 |
| 1990 | — | — | 166 | #787 |
| 1985 | — | — | 100 | #908 |
| 1980 | — | — | 98 | #906 |
| 1975 | — | — | 58 | #1,102 |
| 1970 | — | — | 62 | #1,035 |
| 1965 | — | — | 21 | #1,731 |
| 1960 | — | — | 39 | #1,253 |
| 1955 | — | — | 28 | #1,464 |
| 1950 | — | — | 17 | #1,832 |
| 1945 | — | — | 19 | #1,546 |
| 1940 | — | — | 20 | #1,529 |
| 1935 | — | — | 28 | #1,275 |
| 1930 | — | — | 26 | #1,437 |
| 1925 | — | — | 37 | #1,168 |
| 1920 | — | — | 25 | #1,512 |
| 1915 | — | — | 35 | #1,089 |
| 1910 | — | — | 10 | #1,059 |
| 1905 | — | — | 9 | #852 |
| 1900 | — | — | — | — |
| 1895 | — | — | 7 | #898 |
| 1890 | — | — | — | — |
| 1885 | — | — | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — | 9 | #645 |
Famous people named Cullen
- Cullen Jones Swimmer · b. 1984
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Cullen mean?
A male given name transferred from the surname.
How popular is the name Cullen in 2025?
Cullen ranked #1,108 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 194 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Cullen?
16,703 babies have been named Cullen in the United States since 1880, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Cullen most popular?
Cullen peaked in 2010, when 685 newborns received the name.
Is Cullen a boy or girl name?
Cullen is overwhelmingly a boy's name — 99% of babies with the name.
Is the name Cullen rising or falling?
Cullen is declining — less popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Cullen?
Well-known people named Cullen include Cullen Jones (swimmer).