The nameCaleb
Caleb is a biblical boy's name, the name of a faithful companion of Moses. It has been in the American top 100 since 1989.
- Boy's name
- Hebrew
Meaning
Caleb is usually linked to the Hebrew kelev, "dog", a symbol of loyalty, or read as "whole-hearted".
Origin
Hebrew. Caleb is one of the twelve spies sent by Moses into Canaan, and one of only two of his generation to enter the Promised Land.
History
Popular with the Puritans, Caleb came back in the late 20th century. In the United States it reached 31st place in 2009.
Did you know?
- The swimmer Caleb Dressel won five gold medals at the Tokyo Olympics.
Famous people named Caleb
- Caleb Landry Jones, actor
- Caleb Followill, singer of Kings of Leon
- Caleb Dressel, swimmer
Popularity of the name Caleb
Caleb in the United States
Caleb was most popular in the United States in the 2000s, with 110,296 births over the decade, 34% of all recorded babies named Caleb. Its rise began around 1981, and it peaked in 2002. Half of all babies named Caleb in the United States were born before 2005, so it is mostly a name of today's children and teenagers. Over the last five years on record, it has been falling: 5,735 births a year on average, against 7,482 in the five years before.
Caleb in the United Kingdom
Caleb was most popular in the United Kingdom in the 2010s, with 9,406 births over the decade, 47% of all recorded babies named Caleb. Half of all babies named Caleb in the United Kingdom were born before 2015, so it is mostly a name of today's children and teenagers. Over the last five years on record, its popularity has held steady at around 894 births a year.
Caleb in Ireland
Caleb in France
Sibling names for Caleb
Names from the same generation as Caleb, whose popularity in the United States has followed a similar path.
How many people are named Caleb? See the counter → · What would your name be in 1950? · Name origin quiz
Compare Caleb with another name
Meaning, origin and popularity of Caleb side by side with the name of your choice.
Caleb in our baby name lists
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Caleb mean?
Caleb is usually linked to the Hebrew kelev, "dog", a symbol of loyalty, or read as "whole-hearted".
What is the origin of the name Caleb?
Hebrew. Caleb is one of the twelve spies sent by Moses into Canaan, and one of only two of his generation to enter the Promised Land.
Is Caleb a girl's or a boy's name?
Caleb is a boy's name.
How popular is the name Caleb?
In 2024, Caleb was the 49th most popular name for baby boys in the United States, with 5,766 births.
What are good sibling names for Caleb?
Names from the same generation, with a similar popularity in the United States: Abigail, Elizabeth, Madeline and Gabriella for a sister, Gabriel, Isaiah, Ethan and Aaron for a brother.
Who are famous people named Caleb?
Caleb Landry Jones, actor; Caleb Followill, singer of Kings of Leon; Caleb Dressel, swimmer.