Cullen

At a Glance

Meaning

Holly (from Gaelic 'cuilinn, ' holly, also a town in Moray, Scotland)

Origin

Scottish Gaelic (surname/place name)

Gender

Used for both boys and girls

Pronunciation

KUL-inListen

Cullen (KUL-in) is a Scottish Gaelic surname and place name, linked to the Gaelic word 'cuilinn', meaning holly, and to a town in Moray, Scotland. You may see it said that the name means 'handsome, good-looking lad', but that isn't accurate: the name traces back to holly, likely by way of the Scottish place name.

Meaning & Origin of Cullen

Meaning: Holly (from Gaelic 'cuilinn, ' holly, also a town in Moray, Scotland).

Origin: Scottish Gaelic (surname/place name).

A common claim: Handsome, good-looking lad Actually: Cullen doesn't come from a word meaning 'handsome' — Wiktionary traces the surname to Gaelic 'cuilinn' (holly), likely via the Scottish place name Cullen.

Source: Wiktionary.

How to Pronounce Cullen

Popularity of Cullen

Cullen peaked at #413 in 2010, when 679 babies were given the name. By 2024 it had slipped to #1129 with 187 babies, so it's much less common than it was, though still a name you'll meet.

Names Like Cullen

These names have followed a similar path to Cullen in U.S. popularity over the years.

• Brecken
• Scarlette
• Hadleigh
• Jayda
• Kalel
• Mikael

FAQ

What does the name Cullen mean?

Holly (from Gaelic ‘cuilinn, ‘ holly, also a town in Moray, Scotland). (Source: Wiktionary)

How do you pronounce Cullen?

Cullen is pronounced KUL-in (IPA: /ˈkʌlɪn/).

Is Cullen a popular name right now?

Cullen peaked at #413 in 2010 and is ranked #1129 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1880–2024.)

Make Cullen Name Art

Free printable nursery art for Cullen, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.