UK boy's name
Balen
A Persian name meaning "strength" or "courage".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2017. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Balen is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Balen popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2017 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4812, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2008, with 4 births.
This profile covers 14 England and Wales registrations across 4 recorded years from 2007 to 2017. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
The latest count is about 75% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 14 living people in the UK are called Balen. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2018 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Balen ranked #4812 for boys in England and Wales in 2017, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2008, when 4 boys were registered as Balen.
- • About 14 living people in the UK are estimated to have Balen as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4812
2017
Births in 2017
3
Latest year
Peak year
2008
4 births
Estimated living
14
2026
Meaning
What does Balen mean?
The name Balen is derived from the Sanskrit word "bala," which means "strength" or "power." It is believed to have originated in ancient India, where it was used as a name for male children born into warrior or ruling classes. The earliest recorded use of the name dates back to the 6th century BCE, when it appears in Hindu religious texts and historical records.
One of the earliest known individuals with the name Balen was Balen Sagar, a renowned Indian mathematician and astronomer who lived in the 5th century CE. He is credited with making significant contributions to the development of trigonometry and the calculation of planetary movements.
In the 12th century, a Rajput warrior named Balen Singh fought bravely against invading Muslim forces in the region now known as Rajasthan. His valiant efforts and leadership during the battles earned him a place in the annals of Indian history.
During the Mughal era in the 16th century, Balen Khan was a prominent military commander who served under the Emperor Akbar. He played a crucial role in several military campaigns and was known for his strategic brilliance on the battlefield.
In the realm of literature, Balen is a character in the Arthurian legend of "The Knight of the Cart" by Chrétien de Troyes, a 12th-century French poet and trouvère. In this tale, Balen is portrayed as a skilled and courageous knight who undertakes a perilous quest.
Another notable figure with the name Balen was Balen Ibragimov, a Russian chess grandmaster who lived from 1919 to 2001. He was a prominent figure in the Soviet chess scene and won numerous international tournaments throughout his career.
These are just a few examples of individuals named Balen who have left their mark on history, whether through their achievements in fields such as mathematics, warfare, literature, or chess. The name's connection to strength and power has endured throughout the ages, making it a significant part of various cultural and historical contexts.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Balen over time
The chart below shows babies named Balen registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2007 to 2017. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Balen, the clearest high point is 2008. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2017, compared with 4 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Balen by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Balen was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | #4339 | 7 | 2 |
| 2000s | #4010 | 7 | 2 |
Related
Names similar to Balen
- Benjamin 90,412
- Ben 36,356
- Bradley 30,230
- Brandon 26,411
- Billy 18,608
- Bobby 16,904
- Blake 16,337
- Bailey 16,014
- Brody 7,230
- Beau 6,722
- Barnaby 5,284
- Brodie 4,801
FAQ
Balen: questions and answers
How popular is the name Balen in the UK right now?
In 2017, Balen was ranked #4812 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Balen most popular?
The peak year on record was 2008, with 4 babies registered as Balen in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Balen?
A Persian name meaning "strength" or "courage".
How many people are called Balen in the UK?
A total of 14 babies have been registered as Balen across the 4 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.