Baby Name Popularity Profile

Caleb

Data-driven SSA statistics, rankings, and historical trends for Caleb.

✦ Faithful, devoted 🌍 Hebrew biblical traditional
National Rank (2025) #58
All-Time Peak Rank #31 Achieved 2009
Total U.S. Births 324,350 since 1880
Unisex Distribution 99.9% Boy / 0.1% Girl Overwhelmingly Male
First Recorded 1880 Last seen: 2025
Peak Decade 2000s 11,665 births in 2002
💡 The Caleb Vibe: Considered a Modern Trend. A contemporary choice reflecting current cultural naming rhythms and popularity brackets.

🌍 Meaning & Etymology

Primary Meaning Faithful, devoted
Language Origin Hebrew
Origin Type single
Derived from Hebrew Kaleb, possibly meaning 'dog' or 'wholehearted, faithful'. In the Old Testament, Caleb was one of the twelve spies sent by Moses into Canaan.
Common Nicknames
Cal
Alternative Spellings
Kaleb
Pronunciation: KAY-leb
Themes & Categories
biblical traditional
Etymology confidence: High

📖 The Story Behind Caleb

According to SSA data, Caleb achieved its highest historical rank of #31 in 2009. Its highest annual registration volume occurred in 2002 with 11,665 babies. Between 2015 and 2025, modern registrations have decreased by 40.9%. Overall, the name has maintained a ranked presence for 146 consecutive years.

📊 Factual Timeline & Current Trajectory (1880 – 2025)

Registration footprint of Caleb across 145 years of SSA data.

5-Year Trajectory Stable
10-Year Shift -40.9% Decline
18801920196020002025

📈 Popularity Milestones & Volatility

Busiest Year on Record 11,665 births in 2002
Years in Top 100 37 yrs
Years in Top 500 62 yrs
Registry Streak 146 yrs
Historical Volatility Highly Volatile
Largest 1-Year Jump N/A
Decade-by-Decade Registration Volumes
1880s: 182
1890s: 89
1900s: 106
1910s: 317
1920s: 416
1930s: 316
1940s: 312
1950s: 416
1960s: 518
1970s: 4,012
1980s: 20,644
1990s: 66,298
2000s: 110,087
2010s: 86,734
2020s: 33,903

📐 Sound & Spelling Structure

Phonetic Syllables Ca-leb
Letter Count 5 letters
Spelling Complexity Moderate
Length Percentile Longer than 7.7% of names
Linguistic Profile: It is an isogram, meaning no two letters are repeated. Longer than 7.7% of SSA names. Starts with C, a letter used by only 5.7% of SSA names.

🛠️ Sibling & Surname Cadence Tool

Enter a surname or sibling name to test how it pairs with Caleb.

📍 Authentic State & Regional Rankings

Highest Ranking State Alaska
Top States Alaska, Nevada, Idaho, Florida, Utah
States with Data 51
State 2025 Rank Total Births Peak Year 5-Yr Velocity
Alaska #65 1,019 2003 Insufficient historical volume
Nevada #93 1,786 2011 30.4% Decline
Idaho #98 1,949 2003 26.5% Decline
Florida #39 16,625 2008 +14.8% Growth
Utah #63 3,876 2002 +25.5% Growth
Tennessee #77 10,019 2002 7.0% Decline
Oregon #52 4,267 2003 +8.9% Growth
Colorado #61 5,569 2004 3.1% Decline
Wyoming Unranked 619 2001 Insufficient historical volume
Arizona #63 5,584 2003 +1.8% Growth
New Hampshire #81 1,432 2001 Insufficient historical volume
Washington #45 7,329 2004 10.3% Decline
Vermont Unranked 779 1998 Insufficient historical volume
North Carolina #57 12,971 2004 8.0% Decline
Georgia #61 12,565 2002 21.4% Decline
Oklahoma #91 5,914 2002 2.1% Decline
Hawaii #49 1,309 2009 Insufficient historical volume
Virginia #43 9,507 2004 18.8% Decline
Maine #103 1,841 2004 Insufficient historical volume
Montana #112 1,266 2002 Insufficient historical volume
Texas #52 30,841 2009 +4.8% Growth
Indiana #87 9,480 2002 14.0% Decline
Arkansas #88 4,320 2002 35.7% Decline
Kansas #92 4,190 2000 26.4% Decline
Delaware #77 785 2014 Insufficient historical volume
Missouri #111 8,434 2000 4.5% Decline
South Carolina #59 5,396 2009 Stable
Alabama #70 6,735 2000 18.3% Decline
Maryland #27 5,420 2014 11.9% Decline
Nebraska #100 2,597 2005 Insufficient historical volume
South Dakota #87 1,188 2002 Insufficient historical volume
New Mexico #107 1,813 2012 51.4% Decline
Louisiana #107 6,069 2002 24.2% Decline
Kentucky #82 5,777 2002 9.2% Decline
Minnesota #66 6,050 2003 18.1% Decline
Iowa #100 4,310 2002 11.9% Decline
Wisconsin #53 6,170 2005 8.1% Decline
Ohio #77 14,087 2001 14.9% Decline
Michigan #81 11,212 2002 16.0% Decline
Mississippi #110 3,673 2007 46.2% Decline
West Virginia #132 2,632 2003 Insufficient historical volume
California #50 27,004 2014 +1.3% Growth
North Dakota #72 883 2002 Insufficient historical volume
Illinois #55 11,219 2002 4.9% Decline
Connecticut #48 2,324 2015 1.5% Decline
Pennsylvania #54 11,163 2010 12.8% Decline
Rhode Island #53 742 2017 Insufficient historical volume
Massachusetts #60 4,704 2013 38.5% Decline
New Jersey #52 4,133 2022 +4.3% Growth
District of Columbia #39 659 2013 Insufficient historical volume
New York #56 11,210 2015 5.8% Decline

👨‍👩‍👧 Sibling Name Suggestions

👦 Brother Suggestions
Ethan Dylan Isaac Logan Aiden Angel Jonah Samuel Nathan Jayden
👧 Sister Suggestions
Julia Emma Hannah Leah Maya Hailey Ava Grace Alana Jade

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