Caleb first name popularity, history and meaning

Find out how popular the first name Caleb has been for the last 50 years (from 1975 to 2024) 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 2024, there were 5,766 male babies and 9 female babies born with the name Caleb.

Yes—according to the SSA data, 9 baby girls were named Caleb in 2024, despite it being a predominantly male name. We'd love to know why!

YearMale CountFemale Count
20245,7669
20235,4888
20225,73912
20215,9449
20205,5996
20196,40213
20186,9875
20177,14410
20167,9749
20158,81911
20149,23914
20139,60816
20129,97415
201110,0359
201010,47918
200910,99713
200810,57410
200710,95210
200610,99710
200510,89425
200411,30560
200311,64323
200211,66319
200111,17727
20009,86619
19999,28122
19989,02823
19977,77511
19967,55117
19956,65512
19946,15912
19935,78317
19925,04011
19914,86112
19904,15311
19893,78715
19882,81614
19872,50316
19862,09712
19852,08613
19841,65118
19831,71511
19821,58311
19811,4297
19809818
19798590
19787030
19777130
19765260
19754160

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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