How to say it
CA · leb
/ˈkeɪ.ləb/
Masculine
Caleb
Faithful, devotion
What it means
Hebrew Kalev, traditionally read as 'faithful, devoted' or, in older folk etymology, 'dog' (which in the biblical context meant a faithful follower, not a slur).
Caleb is the English form of the Hebrew Kalev. The traditional reading is 'faithful' or 'devoted'; an older folk etymology takes it from kelev ('dog'), which in ancient Hebrew metaphor meant a faithful follower of God rather than the modern English slur. In the Book of Numbers, Caleb is one of the twelve spies sent into Canaan and one of only two who report back faithfully; for that he's promised entry into the promised land. The name surged with the broader biblical-name revival of the 1980s and 1990s and has stayed in the US top 50 since. Cal is the standard short.
Popularity over time
peaked at #31 in 2009, currently #58 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–present. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Nickname
Cal is the standard short. Most Calebs keep the full two syllables.
Who's worn it
Historical figures, characters, and public faces who share the name. The cultural surface, for whatever weight you want to give it.
- Caleb (Bible) One of the twelve spies sent into Canaan, one of two who reported back faithfully
- Caleb Followill Lead singer of Kings of Leon
Spelling variants
- Kaleb
- Kalev
Names with the same feeling
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