callen

Callen is a surname used in English-speaking regions and, less commonly, a given name. It appears in several countries, often among families with mixed heritage. The exact origin of the name is not definitively established; it may derive from a patronymic, a regional surname, or an anglicized form of other names. In contemporary use, Callen is primarily encountered as a surname.

As a surname, Callen is borne by individuals across a range of professions, including sports, academia, and the arts. In popular culture, the name is best known for the fictional character G. Callen, full name Grisha Callen, in the American television series NCIS: Los Angeles. The character is portrayed by actor Chris O'Donnell and serves as a field agent on the NCIS: Los Angeles team.

In other works of fiction, Callen may appear as a surname for characters, but no single use has achieved the same widespread association beyond NCIS: Los Angeles. The name thus sits within the broader family of Anglophone surnames and continues to be used in various cultural contexts.