Cullen
Gender: Boy
Meaning: Holly tree, young animal
Origin: Irish Gaelic
Popularity: Ranked #1108 in 2025 with 194 babies born.
History: Cullen is an anglicization of the Irish 'Ó Coileáin,' related to the word for whelp or young animal, or from 'cuileann,' meaning holly. It has roots in County Cork, Ireland. The name gained a significant modern boost from the Cullen vampire family in Stephenie Meyer's Twilight series.
Name length: 6 letters
How common is Cullen? About 1 in 16,643 babies born in 2025 were named Cullen, or roughly 0.5 per day in the United States.
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Frequently asked about Cullen
What does the name Cullen mean?
Cullen means “Holly tree, young animal” from Irish Gaelic roots.
What is the origin of the name Cullen?
Cullen has Irish Gaelic origin. The traditional meaning is “Holly tree, young animal”.
How popular is Cullen?
Cullen ranked #1108 in 2025 — given to 194 babies that year.
When was Cullen most popular?
Cullen peaked in 2010 with 679 babies registered that year.
Is Cullen a boy or girl name?
Cullen is predominantly a boys' name — over 90% of Cullens in registered births are male.
Is the name Cullen rising or falling in popularity?
Cullen has fallen 420 spots in the rankings over the last 5 years — from #688 in 2020 to #1108 in 2025.
How long has Cullen been recorded?
Cullen appears in birth records across 129 years — from 1880 through 2025.