Boy name · Hebrew
Caleb
Name meaning, origin and popularity
: most likely from Hebrew kelev, dogCaleb is a boy's name that comes from Hebrew and means "most likely from Hebrew kelev, dog". It is used in English.
- Meaning
- Most likely from Hebrew kelev, dog
- Origin
- Hebrew
- Gender
- Boy
- US rank
- #58 in 2025
Meaning and origin of Caleb
As a boy's name, Caleb comes from Hebrew and means "most likely from Hebrew kelev, dog". It is used in English.
Meaning checked against Behind the Name. How we research names
Caleb on Nomezo lists
What our editors wrote about Caleb on 1 list.
“Most likely dog in Hebrew, or perhaps whole heart. Spy who trusted God, Numbers 13”
From Biblical names, popular Bible names with debated meanings
How popular is Caleb?
- US rank in 2025
- #58
- 5,217 babies, 3,054 per million boys
- Best rank
- #31 in 2009
- Most babies: 11,665 in 2002
- Babies since 1880
- At least 324,350
- Years with under 5 are not listed
| 1880s | 166 per million |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 78 per million |
| 1900s | 78 per million |
| 1910s | 47 per million |
| 1920s | 38 per million |
| 1930s | 30 per million |
| 1940s | 21 per million |
| 1950s | 21 per million |
| 1960s | 27 per million |
| 1970s | 243 per million |
| 1980s | 1,118 per million |
| 1990s | 3,403 per million |
| 2000s | 5,515 per million |
| 2010s | 4,613 per million |
| 2020s | 3,272 per million |
| Year | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #44 | #50 | #45 | #51 | #56 | #51 | #52 | #51 | #49 | #58 |
Source: US Social Security Administration baby-name data, 1880 to 2025, as published in 2026. Each spelling is counted separately, a name given to fewer than 5 babies of one sex in a year is left out, and few people born before 1937 have records, which is why the chart shows babies per million rather than raw counts.
Names spelled like Caleb
One or two letters apart, but from a different root: they look alike without sharing a meaning.
- CaseyVigilant, watchful (Irish Gaelic, unisex)
- CadeFrom a surname from an Old English nickname meaning round (Old English, boy)
- CadenMeaning unknown; sometimes from the Irish surname Mac Cadáin (Irish Gaelic, boy)
- CalumA dove (Latin, boy)
- ColeFrom a surname from Nicholas or the byname Cola, charcoal (Old English, boy)
Names with a similar meaning
- AaronProbably Egyptian, meaning unknown; Hebrew theories say exalted (Hebrew, boy)
- AhmadMost praiseworthy (Arabic, boy)
- AriadneMost holy (Greek, girl)
- ArianeMost holy (Greek, girl)
- ColinWhelp, young dog (Scottish Gaelic, boy)
- DeclanMeaning unknown, though likely begins with Old Irish dag, good (Irish Gaelic, boy)
- AbdulrahimServant of the Most Compassionate (Arabic, boy)
- AbdulrahmanServant of the Most Merciful (Arabic, boy)
- AhmetMost praiseworthy (Arabic, boy)
- AmadouMost praiseworthy, form of Ahmad (Arabic, boy)
- AntonioFrom the Roman family name Antonius; the most common man's name in Spain (Latin, boy)
- AriadnaMost holy (Greek, girl)
- AriadniMost holy (Greek, girl)
- ArianaMost holy (Greek, girl)
- AriannaMost holy (Greek, girl)
Middle names for Caleb
Picked from our middle-name lists with a different first letter and a longer length, so the full name flows.
More boy names from Hebrew
- AdamMan, humankind (Hebrew, boy)
- DavidBeloved one (Hebrew, boy)
- DanielGod is my judge (Hebrew, boy)
- NoahRest, repose (Hebrew, boy)
- EliasMy God is Yahweh (Hebrew, boy)
- GabrielGod is my strength (Hebrew, boy)
- AxelMy father is peace (Hebrew, boy)
- BenjaminSon of the right hand (Hebrew, boy)
- IsaacHe will laugh (Hebrew, boy)
- JanGod is gracious (Hebrew, boy)
- JonathanYahweh has given (Hebrew, boy)
- SamuelName of God (Hebrew, boy)
- SimonHe has heard (Hebrew, boy)
- AbelBreath (Hebrew, boy)
- BenSon of the right hand (Hebrew, boy)
- EthanFirm, enduring (Hebrew, boy)
- IbrahimFather of many nations (Hebrew, boy)
- JoelYahweh is God (Hebrew, boy)
Caleb: common questions
What does the name Caleb mean?
Caleb comes from Hebrew and means "most likely from Hebrew kelev, dog". Checked against Behind the Name.
Is Caleb a boy or girl name?
Caleb is mainly a boy's name.
Where does the name Caleb come from?
Caleb comes from Hebrew and means "most likely from Hebrew kelev, dog". Today it is used in English.
How popular is the name Caleb?
Caleb ranked #58 in the US in 2025, with 5,217 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
What names are similar to Caleb?
Names spelled like Caleb include Casey, Cade, Caden, Calum and Cole.
What middle names go with Caleb?
Middle names that flow well with Caleb include Arnold, Atticus, Brooks, Everett and Jeremiah. A different first letter and a contrasting length usually sound best.