Caleb Name Meaning, Origin and Popularity
Caleb is predominantly used for boys. The statistics below show this exact spelling in official U.S. records.
How Do You Spell Caleb?
Caleb is spelled C-A-L-E-B. The name has 5 letters.
Caleb at a Glance
- Usage
- Predominantly used for boys
- Meaning
- Caleb is commonly interpreted to mean “dog” in Hebrew, based on the root word “kelev.”
- Origin
- Caleb is a name of Hebrew origin often associated with biblical texts.
- Pronunciation
- KAY-leb · 2 syllables
Caleb Popularity in 2025
Rank#58
Recorded Births5,217
- Boys usage fell 9 places to #58 and recorded 578 fewer births compared with 2024.
Figures reflect this exact spelling in the latest available U.S. Social Security Administration records. See the complete year-by-year trend.
What Does the Name Caleb Mean?
Caleb is commonly interpreted to mean “dog” in Hebrew, based on the root word “kelev.”
Origin: Caleb is a name of Hebrew origin often associated with biblical texts.
How Do You Pronounce Caleb?
PronunciationKAY-leb
Syllables2
What Is the History of the Name Caleb?
- History
- The name Caleb is used in biblical narratives and has been historically present within Judeo-Christian contexts.
Caleb Popularity by Year
The table below shows the most recent available records for this exact spelling from 2013 through 2025. Use the full history page to explore every recorded year.
| Year | Usage Category | Recorded Births | National Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Boys | 5,217 | #58 |
| 2024 | Girls | 9 | #10,271 |
| 2024 | Boys | 5,795 | #49 |
| 2023 | Girls | 8 | #11,169 |
| 2023 | Boys | 5,533 | #51 |
| 2022 | Girls | 12 | #8,542 |
| 2022 | Boys | 5,778 | #52 |
| 2021 | Girls | 9 | #10,292 |
| 2021 | Boys | 5,964 | #51 |
| 2020 | Girls | 6 | #13,453 |
| 2020 | Boys | 5,616 | #56 |
| 2019 | Girls | 13 | #8,138 |
| 2019 | Boys | 6,416 | #51 |
| 2018 | Girls | 5 | #15,682 |
| 2018 | Boys | 6,997 | #45 |
| 2017 | Girls | 10 | #9,943 |
| 2017 | Boys | 7,154 | #50 |
| 2016 | Girls | 9 | #10,859 |
| 2016 | Boys | 7,982 | #44 |
| 2015 | Girls | 11 | #9,481 |
| 2015 | Boys | 8,826 | #37 |
| 2014 | Girls | 14 | #8,053 |
| 2014 | Boys | 9,245 | #35 |
| 2013 | Girls | 16 | #7,372 |
When Was Caleb Most Popular?
Peak years are based on the highest recorded birth totals for this exact spelling and usage category. They are ordered by birth count, not chronologically.
2002 · Boys
11,665 recorded births
National rank #35
2003 · Boys
11,643 recorded births
National rank #34
2004 · Boys
11,307 recorded births
National rank #33
2001 · Boys
11,177 recorded births
National rank #37
Where Caleb Ranked Highest in 2025
State rankings are calculated separately for girls and boys within each state. The SSA omits state-level names recorded fewer than five times, so low visible counts can still represent a relatively high state rank.
Top States for Boys
| State | Rank | Recorded Births |
|---|---|---|
| MD | #27 | 126 |
| FL | #39 | 418 |
| DC | #39 | 18 |
| VA | #43 | 155 |
| WA | #45 | 130 |
| CT | #48 | 64 |
| HI | #49 | 16 |
| CA | #50 | 678 |