Caleb first name popularity, history and meaning

Find out how popular the first name Caleb has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Meaning of Caleb

A masculine name of Hebrew origin meaning "faithful" or "whole-hearted".

Popularity of Caleb by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Caleb is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 100% of people named Caleb being male.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 5,488 male babies and 8 female babies born with the name Caleb.

Yes—according to the SSA data, 8 baby girls were named Caleb in 2023, despite it being a predominantly male name. We'd love to know why!

Year Male Count Female Count
2023 5,488 8
2022 5,739 12
2021 5,944 9
2020 5,599 6
2019 6,402 13
2018 6,987 5
2017 7,144 10
2016 7,974 9
2015 8,819 11
2014 9,239 14
2013 9,608 16
2012 9,974 15
2011 10,035 9
2010 10,479 18
2009 10,997 13
2008 10,574 10
2007 10,952 10
2006 10,997 10
2005 10,894 25
2004 11,305 60
2003 11,643 23
2002 11,663 19
2001 11,177 27
2000 9,866 19
1999 9,281 22
1998 9,028 23
1997 7,775 11
1996 7,551 17
1995 6,655 12
1994 6,159 12
1993 5,783 17
1992 5,040 11
1991 4,861 12
1990 4,153 11
1989 3,787 15
1988 2,816 14
1987 2,503 16
1986 2,097 12
1985 2,086 13
1984 1,651 18
1983 1,715 11
1982 1,583 11
1981 1,429 7
1980 981 8
1979 859 0
1978 703 0
1977 713 0
1976 526 0
1975 416 0
1974 301 0

The history of the first name Caleb

The name Caleb has its origins in the Hebrew language and culture, dating back to ancient times. It is derived from the Hebrew word "kelev," which means "dog" or "faithful companion." The name was initially associated with loyalty and devotion.

Caleb is a prominent biblical name, appearing in the Old Testament. In the Book of Numbers, Caleb was one of the twelve spies sent by Moses to scout the land of Canaan. Along with Joshua, he was among the only two spies who remained faithful and encouraged the Israelites to conquer the Promised Land.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Caleb can be found in the Dead Sea Scrolls, which date back to the 3rd century BCE. The name appears in various ancient Hebrew texts and manuscripts, indicating its widespread usage among the Hebrew people.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Caleb. In the 17th century, Caleb Quotlequah (c. 1624-1690) was a prominent leader and diplomat of the Chickasaws, a Native American tribe. He played a crucial role in negotiating treaties and fostering relationships between his tribe and European settlers.

Caleb Cushing (1800-1879) was an American politician and diplomat who served as the 35th United States Attorney General under President Franklin Pierce. He played a significant role in the acquisition of Alaska from Russia in 1867.

Caleb Bradham (1867-1934) was an American businessman best known as the inventor of Pepsi-Cola, one of the world's most popular soft drinks. He created the beverage in 1893 and initially marketed it as a digestive aid and energy booster.

Caleb Carr (born 1955) is an American novelist and military historian. He is best known for his novels "The Alienist" and "The Angel of Darkness," which were set in late 19th century New York City and explored the early days of psychological profiling in criminal investigations.

Caleb Plant (born 1992) is an American professional boxer who has held multiple world championships in the super middleweight division. He gained recognition for his impressive performances and engaging persona both inside and outside the ring.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Caleb was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Caleb, please contact us.

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"Caleb first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on October 31, 2024. http://namecensus.com/first-names/caleb-meaning-and-history/.

"Caleb first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/first-names/caleb-meaning-and-history/. Accessed 31 October, 2024

Caleb first name popularity, history and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/first-names/caleb-meaning-and-history/.

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