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The short answer
Cal is a masculine name used in English. Behind the Name describes it this way: "Short form of Calvin and other names beginning with Cal." It ranked #543 for boys in the United States in 2025.
Meaning and etymology
According to Behind the Name, short form of Calvin and other names beginning with Cal. The entry lists its usage as English.
Editorial confidence: likely
Popularity
Cal ranked #543 for boys in the United States in 2025. The figure comes from the Social Security Administration's national file for that year.
| Region | Year | Rank | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 2025 | #543 | ssa-2025 |
If you like this name
Names that Behind the Name files under the same origin (English) and that sit near Cal in the 2025 American rankings.
Similar by origin
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Cal mean?
Behind the Name does not give Cal a one-word meaning. It describes the name as follows: short form of Calvin and other names beginning with Cal.
Is Cal a popular name?
Cal ranked #543 for boys in the United States in 2025. (Social Security Administration data).
Is Cal a boy's or a girl's name?
In the 2025 SSA data Cal appears in the boys' list; Behind the Name labels it masculine.
Sources
- Behind the Name: Meaning, origin and history of the name Cal — supports meaning, usage, pronunciation, variants.
- U.S. Social Security Administration: Popular Baby Names — national data, year of birth 2025 — supports popularity.
