Is Caleb a boy, girl, or unisex name?

Caleb is commonly used as a Boy name.

How popular is Caleb?

It’s currently ranked #48 in the U.S. Recent trend: Falling.

How do you pronounce Caleb?

KAY-lub · IPA: //ˈkeɪ.ləb//

Caleb Boy

Popularity: #48 · Trend: ↘ Falling

Origin(s)

PronunciationKAY-lub / /ˈkeɪ.ləb/

Hebrew; English

Meaning

Hebrew: faithful; English: dog

Historical & Cultural Background

Caleb is a name of Hebrew origin, derived from the word 'kelev,' meaning dog, which symbolizes loyalty. In the Bible, Caleb was one of the twelve spies sent by Moses to explore the land of Canaan and is noted for his faithfulness. The name has been used in various cultures, particularly in English-speaking countries, since the Protestant Reformation. Its popularity has fluctuated over the centuries, but it remains a well-regarded name.

Trend Summary

Caleb has consistently ranked among the top names for boys in the United States, particularly popular in the late 1990s and early 2000s.

Variants

Kaleb
Kalev

International Variants

Kaleb (Spanish)
Kalev (Hebrew)
Caleb (Latin)

Famous people named Caleb

Caleb Carr is an American author known for his historical novels, particularly 'The Alienist.'.

Caleb McLaughlin is an American actor recognized for his role as Lucas Sinclair in the Netflix series 'Stranger Things.'.

Caleb Followill is the lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist of the American rock band Kings of Leon.

Caleb Landry Jones is an American actor and musician known for his performances in films such as 'Get Out' and 'Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri.'.

Fictional characters named Caleb

Caleb Widogast is a character in the web series 'Critical Role,' known for his role as a wizard in the campaign.

Caleb is a character in the animated series 'The Magic School Bus,' where he is portrayed as a student who participates in various educational adventures.

Sibling Suggestions

Joshua Ethan Isaac Levi Moses Aaron

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)

Top States for Caleb (2024)

Year:

State	Births	Share
CA	715	13%
TX	685	13%
FL	425	8%
NY	309	6%
PA	250	5%
NC	202	4%
IL	194	4%
GA	185	3%
VA	167	3%
OH	157	3%
MD	131	2%
MA	130	2%
WA	129	2%
AZ	128	2%
TN	126	2%

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

Year	Births
1880	27
1881	18
1882	25
1883	16
1884	17
1885	16
1886	14
1887	13
1888	17
1889	19
1890	8
1891	7
1892	11
1893	11
1894	6
1895	10
1896	13
1897	9
1898	7
1899	7
1900	11
1901	8
1902	11
1903	11
1904	10
1905	9
1906	14
1907	10
1908	8
1909	14
1910	15
1911	15
1912	20
1913	24
1914	36
1915	39
1916	39
1917	46
1918	49
1919	34
1920	52
1921	38
1922	52
1923	37
1924	44
1925	56
1926	39
1927	43
1928	26
1929	29
1930	21
1931	25
1932	43
1933	37
1934	39
1935	28
1936	29
1937	27
1938	37
1939	30
1940	30
1941	33
1942	28
1943	32
1944	25
1945	19
1946	32
1947	44
1948	38
1949	31
1950	36
1951	39
1952	39
1953	36
1954	33
1955	40
1956	49
1957	45
1958	55
1959	45
1960	50
1961	39
1962	46
1963	47
1964	58
1965	41
1966	63
1967	36
1968	61
1969	77
1970	94
1971	104
1972	114
1973	185
1974	301
1975	415
1976	525
1977	712
1978	703
1979	860
1980	980
1981	1,428
1982	1,582
1983	1,717
1984	1,650
1985	2,083
1986	2,098
1987	2,503
1988	2,817
1989	3,788
1990	4,154
1991	4,864
1992	5,042
1993	5,787
1994	6,161
1995	6,656
1996	7,549
1997	7,775
1998	9,028
1999	9,281
2000	9,866
2001	11,177
2002	11,665
2003	11,642
2004	11,305
2005	10,894
2006	11,001
2007	10,954
2008	10,577
2009	10,999
2010	10,484
2011	10,039
2012	9,975
2013	9,612
2014	9,243
2015	8,823
2016	7,978
2017	7,151
2018	6,994
2019	6,414
2020	5,612
2021	5,961
2022	5,772
2023	5,521
2024	5,766