Len Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Len originates from Old English as a diminutive of Leonard, meaning brave lion. The name has evolved through forms like Leonard and Lenard. It symbolizes bravery and strength, with no biblical relevance. Len gained popularity in the 20th century as a casual and friendly name. Notable individuals with this name include Len Goodman and Len Dawson.
The name Len is most popular in Mississippi, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the Baby Boomers generation in the West region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Len has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled 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, 'Len' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 1200th out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 1062nd out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 797th out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 1081st out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 3332nd out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 6962nd out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 7792nd out of 23106 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 9204th out of 9204 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 5795th out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 14677th out of 19264 names. Discover how the name 'Len' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Len"
Pronunciation
/lɛn/
Origin
Old English
Etymology
Len is often considered a diminutive form of the name Leonard, which derives from the Germanic elements 'leon' meaning lion and 'hard' meaning brave or hardy.
Meaning
brave lion
Language Evolution
Leonard, Lenard, Len
Historical Usage
The name Len gained popularity in the 20th century, particularly in English-speaking countries, as a short form of Leonard.
Variants & Derivatives
Lenny, Leonard, Lenard
Modern Popularity & Image
Currently, Len is perceived as a friendly and approachable name, often associated with warmth and familiarity.
Famous People
Len Goodman, Len Dawson, Len Wiseman
Explore More Len Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Len"
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 "Len"
"Len" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 1200th of 7545 | 565 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 1062nd of 6773 | 708 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 797th of 7552 | 1,612 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 1081st of 10718 | 913 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 3332nd of 16616 | 265 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 6962nd of 24088 | 160 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 7792nd of 23106 | 117 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 9204th of 9204 | 5 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 5795th of 12526 | 82 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 14677th of 19264 | 15 |
Regional Popularity of "Len" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - |
68.01% 1609th/2366 |
- |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
53.49% 827th/1546 |
- |
56.35% 1326th/2353 |
67.87% 1050th/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
33.45% 745th/2227 |
40.53% 985th/2430 |
32.04% 914th/2853 |
26.41% 733rd/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
35.92% 1055th/2937 |
47.26% 1646th/3483 |
38.69% 1361st/3518 |
31.03% 1255th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
Regional Popularity of "Len" 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 "Len"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Len" 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.