Cullen Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Cullen is an Irish name that means 'holly tree', originating from the Gaelic 'Cúileann'. It has evolved through historical forms and is rooted in ancient Gaelic culture. The name carries traits of nature and heritage and has no biblical relevance. Cullen gained popularity in the 19th century and is currently viewed as a strong traditional name.
The name Cullen is most popular in Louisiana, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the Generation Alpha generation in the MidWest region. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is declining in usage, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Cullen has been falling for male in MidWest, falling for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, falling for male in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for male in West. Across generations, 'Cullen' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 1237th out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 1442nd out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 1523rd out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 1084th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 704th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 605th out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 663rd out of 23106 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 16521st out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 15970th out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 19262nd out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 22160th out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Cullen' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Cullen"
Pronunciation
/ˈkʌlən/
Origin
Irish
Etymology
The name Cullen is derived from the Gaelic 'Cúileann', which means 'holly tree'. It has roots in the ancient Gaelic culture of Ireland.
Meaning
Holly tree
Language Evolution
Cúileann, Cullen
Historical Usage
Cullen gained popularity in the 19th century, particularly in Ireland and among Irish diaspora communities, due to its association with nature and the landscape.
Variants & Derivatives
Culley, Cullin
Modern Popularity & Image
Today, Cullen is perceived as a strong and traditional name, often associated with a connection to nature and heritage.
Famous People
Cullen Bunn - American comic book writer, Cullen Hightower - American actor
Explore More Cullen Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Cullen"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Cullen"
"Cullen" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 1237th of 7545 | 535 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 1442nd of 6773 | 415 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 1523rd of 7552 | 501 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 1084th of 10718 | 908 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 704th of 16616 | 3,172 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 605th of 24088 | 6,092 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 663rd of 23106 | 4,722 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 16521st of 19264 | 10 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 15970th of 27321 | 34 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 19262nd of 35406 | 44 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 22160th of 30306 | 18 |
Regional Popularity of "Cullen" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - |
39.01% 923rd/2366 |
- |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - |
64.56% 1519th/2353 |
- |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - |
57.17% 1631st/2853 |
- |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
37.93% 1114th/2937 |
49.61% 1728th/3483 |
30.13% 1060th/3518 |
30.89% 1249th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
16.77% 618th/3685 |
16.58% 742nd/4475 |
12.75% 662nd/5194 |
14.28% 902nd/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
10.87% 498th/4582 |
11.17% 577th/5164 |
7.64% 559th/7313 |
14.85% 1108th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
14.43% 575th/3984 |
13.88% 623rd/4487 |
8.60% 587th/6822 |
18.79% 1179th/6276 |
Regional Popularity of "Cullen" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
State-by-State Popularity of "Cullen"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Cullen" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.