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Cullen

♂ Boy

Pronounced KUL-un /ˈkʌl.ən/High

Meaning: Holly; descendant of Cuilinn; from Irish Gaelic Cuilinn (holly tree) with Ó (descendant of) prefix, anglicized as O'Cullen/CullenHigh

In 30 seconds: An Irish Gaelic surname meaning 'descendant of Cuilinn' (holly), anglicized from O'Cuilinn. Most widely known through the Cullen vampire family in Stephenie Meyer's Twilight series.

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Origin HighIrish

MeaningHolly; descendant of Cuilinn; from Irish Gaelic Cuilinn (holly tree) with Ó (descendant of) prefix, anglicized as O'Cullen/Cullen

U.S. rank (2024)#1129 ↘ Falling

2024 U.S. births187 boys (0.01% of U.S. boys)

Peak year2010

Total births (all-time)≈ 16,394

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

History & Origin

Cullen is the anglicization of Irish Gaelic Ó Cuilinn (descendant of Cuilinn, from cuilinn: holly). The holly tree was sacred in Celtic tradition and appears in many Irish names. As a given name Cullen is a modern surname-to-first-name transfer.

Cullen entered U.S. boys' charts partly through Twilight and has grown. It ranked #1129 for boys in 2024.

Did you know? The Cullen family name in Twilight (the vegetarian vampires) was chosen by Stephenie Meyer apparently for its Irish sound — and the series' enormous success made Cullen one of the defining surname-names of the 2000s for a generation of readers.

Overall data confidence 87%

Behind the Name — Cullen — Irish Gaelic etymologyU.S. Social Security Administration — popularity data

Variations

CullinCollin

Nicknames

Cull

Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Cullen…

Declan— Irish surname name with the same breezy Celtic quality

Finnegan— Irish surname name with the same rollicking Irish feel

Callahan— Irish -ahan surname name in the same category

Brennan— Irish surname name with the same Celtic masculine confidence

Griffin— Welsh/Irish surname name with the same mythological-natural character

Frequently Asked

What does the name Cullen mean?

Cullen means 'descendant of Cuilinn' (holly), from Irish Gaelic Ó Cuilinn. The holly tree was sacred in Celtic tradition.

How do you pronounce Cullen?

It's said KUL-un — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Cullen a boy or girl name?

Cullen is used as a boys' name.

How popular is Cullen?

Cullen ranked #1129 for U.S. boys in 2024.