Jalen is a modern American name with no traditional meaning of its own; it is best known as a "blend of James and Leonard", the names of basketball star Jalen Rose's father and uncle, which his mother combined in 1973. His college fame in the early 1990s turned it into one of the signature names of that decade. Jalen peaked at number 106 in 2000, spent the late 2010s in the 500s and has recovered slightly to number 443 in 2025.