Boy · #3,930 in 2026

Glean

Gleaning is the act of collecting leftover crops in the field after harvest. During harvest, there is food that is left or missed often because it does not meet store standards for uniformity. Sometimes, fields are left because they were not economically profitable to harvest.

Current Rank
#3,930
Peak Rank
#3,329 (1950)
Total Babies
32
5-Yr Trend
Stable
1921
First Year
1965
Last Year
1950
Peak Year
#3329
Peak Rank
32
Total Count
6
Years Active

Meaning & Origin of Glean

What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.

Gleaning is the act of collecting leftover crops in the field after harvest. During harvest, there is food that is left or missed often because it does not meet store standards for uniformity. Sometimes, fields are left because they were not economically profitable to harvest.

Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →

Origin & history
The term glean was first used in English in the 14th Century, and meant both "to gather grain or other produce left by reapers" and "to gather information or material bit by bit". It has roots in Middle English ( glenen), Anglo-French ( glener ), and Late Latin ( glen(n)ō (“make a collection). Gleaning is referred to throughout history, including biblical references in the books of Leviticus and Deuteronomy . Gleaning has long been a part of agricultural calendar and process, and was practiced widely by the rural poor during the 16th and 17th Centuries. Additionally, as much as one-eighth of l

The Story of Glean

Glean first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby boy name in 1921, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 1950, when 6 Gleans were born — ranking #3,329 that year. As of 2026, Glean ranks #3,930 for baby boys with 5 births, with steady use. In total, more than 32 Gleans have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1920s through the 2020s.

Popularity Over Time

Popularity by State

ME
WA
MT
ND
MN
WI
MI
NY
VT
NH
MA
OR
ID
SD
IA
IL
IN
OH
PA
NJ
CT
RI
CA
NV
WY
NE
MO
KY
WV
VA
MD
DE
DC
UT
CO
KS
AR
TN
NC
SC
AK
AZ
NM
OK
LA
MS
AL
GA
HI
TX
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Top 10
11-50
51-100
101-500
500+
No data

Names that sound like Glean

Phonetically similar names — useful when Glean is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.

Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.

Frequently Asked Questions about Glean

What does the name Glean mean?
Gleaning is the act of collecting leftover crops in the field after harvest. During harvest, there is food that is left or missed often because it does not meet store standards for uniformity. Sometimes, fields are left because they were not economically profitable to harvest.
How popular is Glean in 2026?
In 2026, Glean ranks #3,930 among boys' names in the U.S., with 5 babies given the name that year.
When was Glean most popular?
Glean reached its peak popularity in 1950, ranking #3,329 that year with 6 babies given the name.
Is Glean a unisex name?
In U.S. Social Security records, Glean is primarily a boy's name. We don't have meaningful data for it as a girl's name.
What names go well with Glean?
Names that share a similar style or popularity range with Glean include Cresenciano, Felizardo, Frosty. These pairings are based on rank proximity and naming era in U.S. data.

Similar Names

👦
Cresenciano
Peak #3329
👦
Felizardo
Peak #3329
👦
Frosty
Peak #3329
👦
Larwance
Peak #3329
👦
Thurnell
Peak #3329
👦
Urbano
Peak #3326
👦
Elpidio
Peak #3326
👦
Fortino
Peak #3326

About the name Glean

Glean is a boy baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1921 and has accumulated 32 births in the dataset. Glean's peak popularity came in 1950 when it ranked #3,329. Use the chart and map above to compare Glean's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.

Continue exploring

Data sources

  • Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
  • Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
  • Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
  • Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
  • Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .

Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.