Caleb Boy
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: KAY-lub //ˈkeɪ.ləb//
Origin: Hebrew; English
Meaning: Hebrew: faithful; English: dog
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Caleb has its roots in the Hebrew language, derived from the word "kelev," which means "dog." This etymology is significant as dogs were often seen as loyal companions in ancient cultures, and the name may have symbolized loyalty and faithfulness. The name appears in the Hebrew Bible, specifically in the Book of Numbers, where Caleb is one of the twelve spies sent by Moses to scout the land of Canaan.
His unwavering faith in God and courage in the face of adversity are highlighted in the narrative, establishing him as a prominent biblical figure. The name was later transliterated into Greek as "Kaleb" and subsequently adopted into Latin, which facilitated its entry into various European languages, including Old French and Middle English.
Throughout history, Caleb has been associated with various notable figures and events. In the biblical account, Caleb's loyalty and bravery earned him a significant role in the Israelite conquest of Canaan, and he is often celebrated as a symbol of faith and perseverance.
His story has been referenced in numerous religious texts and teachings, reinforcing the name's significance in Jewish and Christian traditions. The King James Bible, published in the early 17th century, further popularized Caleb's story, ensuring its continued resonance in religious contexts.
Culturally, the name Caleb has been embraced for its connotations of loyalty and strength. It has been used in literature and art to evoke themes of bravery and steadfastness.
The name has also inspired various diminutive forms, such as Cal, which have been used in different cultures. Overall, Caleb's enduring presence in religious texts and cultural narratives underscores its historical significance and the values associated with it.
Famous people named Caleb
In this section, you will find notable people named Caleb. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Caleb who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Caleb who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.
Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.
Caleb McLaughlin is an actor best known for Stranger Things, Concrete Cowboy, and The Lion King on Broadway.
Caleb Followill is a musician best known as the lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist of Kings of Leon.
Caleb Landry Jones is an actor best known for Get Out, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, and The Dead Don't Die.
Caleb Carr is an author best known for The Alienist, The Angel of Darkness, and Killing Time.
Fictional characters named Caleb
The following list of fictional characters named Caleb is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.
You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.
Caleb is a fictional character from the video game series Fire Emblem. He is a skilled mage and a member of the Order of Heroes, known for his strategic mind and loyalty to his friends.
Caleb is a fictional character from the animated series The Owl House. He is a young witch who aspires to become a powerful sorcerer and often finds himself in adventurous situations.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Caleb, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.
Similar names
Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Caleb. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Caleb was first seen in the United States in 1880.
Caleb has ranked as high as #51 nationally, which occurred in 2002, and has been most popular in Texas, California, Florida, Ohio, and North Carolina.
In the past 5 years the name Caleb has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Caleb is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Caleb was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Caleb (2024)
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. In some cases, you may see four or five states listed. However, we only display states where the name represents a significant percentage of births, so the number of states shown can range from one to several.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| CA | 715 | |
| TX | 685 | |
| FL | 425 | |
| NY | 309 | |
| PA | 250 | |
| NC | 202 | |
| IL | 194 | |
| GA | 185 | |
| VA | 167 | |
| OH | 157 | |
| MD | 131 | |
| MA | 130 | |
| WA | 129 | |
| AZ | 128 | |
| TN | 126 |
Popularity Over Time (National) — Table
We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Caleb.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 5,766 |
| 2023 | 5,521 |
| 2022 | 5,772 |
| 2021 | 5,961 |
| 2020 | 5,612 |
| 2019 | 6,414 |
| 2018 | 6,994 |
| 2017 | 7,151 |
| 2016 | 7,978 |
| 2015 | 8,823 |
| 2014 | 9,243 |
| 2013 | 9,612 |
| 2012 | 9,975 |
| 2011 | 10,039 |
| 2010 | 10,484 |
| 2009 | 10,999 |
| 2008 | 10,577 |
| 2007 | 10,954 |
| 2006 | 11,001 |
| 2005 | 10,894 |
| 2004 | 11,305 |
| 2003 | 11,642 |
| 2002 | 11,665 |
| 2001 | 11,177 |
| 2000 | 9,866 |
| 1999 | 9,281 |
| 1998 | 9,028 |
| 1997 | 7,775 |
| 1996 | 7,549 |
| 1995 | 6,656 |
| 1994 | 6,161 |
| 1993 | 5,787 |
| 1992 | 5,042 |
| 1991 | 4,864 |
| 1990 | 4,154 |
| 1989 | 3,788 |
| 1988 | 2,817 |
| 1987 | 2,503 |
| 1986 | 2,098 |
| 1985 | 2,083 |
| 1984 | 1,650 |
| 1983 | 1,717 |
| 1982 | 1,582 |
| 1981 | 1,428 |
| 1980 | 980 |
| 1979 | 860 |
| 1978 | 703 |
| 1977 | 712 |
| 1976 | 525 |
| 1975 | 415 |
| 1974 | 301 |
| 1973 | 185 |
| 1972 | 114 |
| 1971 | 104 |
| 1970 | 94 |
| 1969 | 77 |
| 1968 | 61 |
| 1967 | 36 |
| 1966 | 63 |
| 1965 | 41 |
| 1964 | 58 |
| 1963 | 47 |
| 1962 | 46 |
| 1961 | 39 |
| 1960 | 50 |
| 1959 | 45 |
| 1958 | 55 |
| 1957 | 45 |
| 1956 | 49 |
| 1955 | 40 |
| 1954 | 33 |
| 1953 | 36 |
| 1952 | 39 |
| 1951 | 39 |
| 1950 | 36 |
| 1949 | 31 |
| 1948 | 38 |
| 1947 | 44 |
| 1946 | 32 |
| 1945 | 19 |
| 1944 | 25 |
| 1943 | 32 |
| 1942 | 28 |
| 1941 | 33 |
| 1940 | 30 |
| 1939 | 30 |
| 1938 | 37 |
| 1937 | 27 |
| 1936 | 29 |
| 1935 | 28 |
| 1934 | 39 |
| 1933 | 37 |
| 1932 | 43 |
| 1931 | 25 |
| 1930 | 21 |
| 1929 | 29 |
| 1928 | 26 |
| 1927 | 43 |
| 1926 | 39 |
| 1925 | 56 |
| 1924 | 44 |
| 1923 | 37 |
| 1922 | 52 |
| 1921 | 38 |
| 1920 | 52 |
| 1919 | 34 |
| 1918 | 49 |
| 1917 | 46 |
| 1916 | 39 |
| 1915 | 39 |
| 1914 | 36 |
| 1913 | 24 |
| 1912 | 20 |
| 1911 | 15 |
| 1910 | 15 |
| 1909 | 14 |
| 1908 | 8 |
| 1907 | 10 |
| 1906 | 14 |
| 1905 | 9 |
| 1904 | 10 |
| 1903 | 11 |
| 1902 | 11 |
| 1901 | 8 |
| 1900 | 11 |
| 1899 | 7 |
| 1898 | 7 |
| 1897 | 9 |
| 1896 | 13 |
| 1895 | 10 |
| 1894 | 6 |
| 1893 | 11 |
| 1892 | 11 |
| 1891 | 7 |
| 1890 | 8 |
| 1889 | 19 |
| 1888 | 17 |
| 1887 | 13 |
| 1886 | 14 |
| 1885 | 16 |
| 1884 | 17 |
| 1883 | 16 |
| 1882 | 25 |
| 1881 | 18 |
| 1880 | 27 |