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    The first name Caleb

    A boy’s name from Hebrew meaning “dog”.

    Pronounced /ˈkeɪ.ləb/ 2 syllables Male

    Meaning and origin

    Hebrew origin

    Caleb means “dog” in Hebrew.

    From Late Latin Caleb, Calebus, from Koine Greek Χάλεβ (Kháleb), from Biblical Hebrew כָּלֵב (Kālēḇ), possibly related to כֶּלֶב (keleḇ, “dog”), referring to the unconditional devotion of dogs to their masters.

    From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).

    Popularity

    Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025

    In 2025, 624 boys were named Caleb, making it the 82nd most popular boys’ name. It peaked in 2017, with 853 births (#77).

    0450900 1996200020052010201520202025
    16,177
    babies named Caleb, 1996–2025
    #82
    rank in 2025
    2017
    peak year

    Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Caleb with other names.

    Popularity in the United States

    Babies named Caleb at birth, 1880–2025

    In 2025, 5,217 boys born in the United States were named Caleb, the 58th most popular boys’ name that year. It was used most in 2002, when 11,665 were.

    010,00020,000 188018851890189519001905191019151920192519301935194019451950195519601965197019751980198519901995200020052010201520202025
    325,003
    babies named Caleb since 1880
    #58
    rank in 2025
    2002
    peak year

    US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.

    Nicknames and spellings

    Other spellings and forms

    Famous people named Caleb

    35 on Wikidata, most written-about first

    • Caleb Landry Jones
      American actor, born 1989
    • Caleb Ewan
      Australian road and track bicycle racer, born 1994
    • Charles Caleb Colton
      British priest and writer, 1777–1832
    • George Caleb Bingham
      American artist (1811–1879)
    • Caleb Bradham
      American pharmacist, inventor of Pepsi-Cola, 1867–1934
    • Caleb Deschanel
      American cinematographer and director of film and television, born 1944
    • Caleb Cushing
      American politician (1800-1879)
    • Caleb Wiley
      American soccer player, born 2004
    • Caleb Carr
      American novelist, screenwriter and military historian (1955–2024)
    • Caleb Porter
      American soccer player-coach, born 1975
    • Caleb Swanigan
      American basketball player (1997–2022)
    • Caleb Martin
      American basketball player (born 1995)

    More Hebrew boys’ names

    All 346 names of Hebrew origin

    Questions

    What does the name Caleb mean?
    Caleb means “dog” in Hebrew.
    What is the origin of the name Caleb?
    From Late Latin Caleb, Calebus, from Koine Greek Χάλεβ (Kháleb), from Biblical Hebrew כָּלֵב (Kālēḇ), possibly related to כֶּלֶב (keleḇ, “dog”), referring to the unconditional devotion of dogs to their masters.
    How popular is the name Caleb?
    In 2025, 624 boys born in England and Wales were named Caleb, ranking 82nd. Its peak was 2017, with 853 births.
    Is Caleb a boy's or a girl's name?
    Mostly a boy's name: 100% of the 325,003 US babies named Caleb since 1880 were boys.
    When was Caleb most popular?
    2002 in the United States, when 11,665 babies were named Caleb, its highest rank at 35th.
    How do you pronounce Caleb?
    Caleb is /ˈkeɪ.ləb/, 2 syllables.
    What are other spellings of Caleb?
    Kaleb.