Allen is an English and Scottish male given name, meaning "noble". It gained popularity during the Middle Ages due to its usage in Arthurian legend, where it was borne by several characters including Sir Allen-a-Dale, a singer from Robin Hood's band of outlaws. The name has since been associated with various notable figures throughout history and culture, such as American businessman and philanthropist Allen Stanford, and British poet Allen Ginsberg.
The name Allen experienced significant fluctuations in popularity over the past century, with peaks and valleys in birth occurrences. The highest numbers of babies named Allen were born in the years immediately following World War I (1914-1917) and during the post-WWII baby boom (1945-1960), particularly in 1922 when there were 33 births. However, the name's popularity has since declined steadily, with fewer than 10 Allen births recorded annually since the late 1980s, and as low as five births per year in recent years (2011-2020). Overall, a total of 1866 babies named Allen were born between 1896 and 2020.