Len
A diminutive of the male given name Leonard.
Every Len since 1880 — 4,616 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Len
Len is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #9,377 in 2025 with 8 babies given the name. It is currently holding steady compared with a decade ago.
Since 1880, 4,616 American babies have been named Len. Its peak came in 1958, when 125 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 1950s.
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 Len stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Len 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 | — | — | 8 | #9,377 |
| 2024 | — | — | 8 | #9,511 |
| 2023 | — | — | 12 | #7,128 |
| 2022 | — | — | 11 | #7,547 |
| 2021 | — | — | 7 | #10,356 |
| 2020 | — | — | 7 | #10,178 |
| 2019 | — | — | 9 | #8,608 |
| 2018 | — | — | 10 | #7,935 |
| 2017 | — | — | 8 | #9,365 |
| 2016 | — | — | 10 | #7,923 |
| 2015 | — | — | 12 | #6,918 |
| 2014 | — | — | 15 | #5,891 |
| 2013 | — | — | 8 | #9,317 |
| 2012 | — | — | 14 | #6,195 |
| 2011 | — | — | 9 | #8,500 |
| 2010 | — | — | 13 | #6,582 |
| 2009 | — | — | 12 | #7,074 |
| 2008 | — | — | 5 | #13,766 |
| 2007 | — | — | 10 | #7,944 |
| 2006 | — | — | 12 | #6,730 |
| 2005 | — | — | 11 | #6,914 |
| 2004 | — | — | 9 | #7,927 |
| 2003 | — | — | 10 | #7,039 |
| 2002 | — | — | 5 | #11,760 |
| 2001 | — | — | 8 | #8,014 |
| 2000 | — | — | 12 | #5,770 |
| 1995 | — | — | 13 | #4,687 |
| 1990 | — | — | 14 | #4,105 |
| 1985 | — | — | 24 | #2,266 |
| 1980 | — | — | 26 | #2,087 |
| 1975 | — | — | 32 | #1,611 |
| 1970 | 5 | #8,711 | 114 | #773 |
| 1965 | — | — | 77 | #842 |
| 1960 | — | — | 121 | #713 |
| 1955 | — | — | 77 | #841 |
| 1950 | 8 | #4,156 | 66 | #841 |
| 1945 | — | — | 54 | #857 |
| 1940 | — | — | 47 | #935 |
| 1935 | — | — | 38 | #1,052 |
| 1930 | — | — | 36 | #1,185 |
| 1925 | — | — | 29 | #1,379 |
| 1920 | — | — | 44 | #1,060 |
| 1915 | — | — | 28 | #1,254 |
| 1910 | — | — | 10 | #1,085 |
| 1905 | — | — | 11 | #774 |
| 1900 | — | — | 10 | #877 |
| 1895 | — | — | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — | 11 | #622 |
| 1885 | — | — | 14 | #514 |
| 1880 | — | — | 7 | #780 |
Famous people named Len
- León Febres Cordero Politician · 1931–2008
- Len Deighton Writer · b. 1929
- Len Cariou Actor · b. 1939
- León Felipe Writer · 1884–1968
- Len Wiseman Film director · b. 1973
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Len mean?
A diminutive of the male given name Leonard.
How popular is the name Len in 2025?
Len ranked #9,377 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 8 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Len?
4,616 babies have been named Len in the United States since 1880, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Len most popular?
Len peaked in 1958, when 125 newborns received the name.
Is Len a boy or girl name?
Len is overwhelmingly a boy's name — 98% of babies with the name.
Is the name Len rising or falling?
Len has been roughly stable over the past decade.
Who are famous people named Len?
Well-known people named Len include León Febres Cordero (politician), Len Deighton (writer), Len Cariou (actor).