Calle
Of Spanish origin, meaning "street" or "path".
Name Census estimates that about 211 living Americans carry the first name Calle. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Calle today is around 29 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Calle births was 1998 (12 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Calle. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
People living today
211
~ 1 in 1,624,428 Americans
Peak year
1998
12 babies that year
Average age
29
years old
2012 SSA rank
#17,374
Tracked since 1978
Popularity
Calle: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Calle from the 1970s through to the 2010s, spanning 5 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1990s, with 87 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1990s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Calle by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Calle during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Calle
The given name Calle has its origins in the Swedish language. It is a diminutive form of the name Carl, which is derived from the Old Norse name Karlr. Karlr is thought to be a compound name consisting of the elements "karl" meaning "man" and "hari" meaning "army."
In its early days, the name Calle was primarily used in Scandinavia, particularly in Sweden and parts of Finland. It grew in popularity during the Middle Ages and was often associated with individuals of noble or royal descent.
One of the earliest recorded uses of the name Calle can be found in the Icelandic Sagas, a collection of literary works that dates back to the 13th and 14th centuries. In these sagas, several characters bear the name, indicating its widespread use in the region at the time.
Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Calle. One of the most famous was Calle Ögonvittne (1490-1555), a Swedish merchant and explorer who traveled extensively throughout Europe and the Middle East. His detailed accounts of his travels were widely read and influential during the Renaissance period.
Another prominent figure was Calle Järnkrok (1640-1709), a Swedish military commander who played a significant role in the Great Northern War against Russia and Poland. His strategic prowess and leadership skills earned him a place in the annals of Swedish military history.
In the world of literature, the name Calle is closely associated with the Swedish writer and playwright Calle Lundgren (1858-1932). Lundgren's works, which often explored themes of social injustice and the human condition, were highly acclaimed and helped to shape the literary landscape of his time.
The world of art also has its share of notable figures bearing the name Calle. Calle Rådman (1914-1998) was a renowned Swedish painter whose works often depicted the rugged landscapes and rural life of his native country.
Another noteworthy individual was Calle Flygt (1928-2005), a Swedish engineer and inventor who made significant contributions to the field of wastewater management. His innovative designs for submersible pumps and other water treatment technologies have had a lasting impact on environmental sustainability efforts.
These are just a few examples of the many individuals throughout history who have carried the name Calle. While its origins may be rooted in a specific culture and language, the name has transcended borders and left an indelible mark across various fields and disciplines.
People
Calle + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Calle as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with C
Other first names starting with C with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Calle: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Calle?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 211 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Calle going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 1,624,428 US residents.
Is Calle a common name?
We classify Calle as "Very Rare". It ranks above 74.9% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 218 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Calle most popular?
The single biggest year for Calle was 1998, when 12 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Calle is about 29 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Calle a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Calle in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.