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The short answer
Caleb is a masculine name of Hebrew and biblical origin, pronounced KAY-ləb. Behind the Name calls it "most likely related to Hebrew kelev meaning 'dog'", while noting an alternate theory that joins kol "whole, all of" and lev "heart". In the Old Testament, Caleb is one of the twelve spies Moses sent into Canaan; of the Israelites who left Egypt with Moses, only he and Joshua lived to see the Promised Land. The name entered English use after the Protestant Reformation and was common among the Puritans, who carried it to America in the 17th century. In the United States it ranked #58 for boys in 2025.
Meaning and etymology
Behind the Name gives the name as "most likely related to Hebrew kelev meaning 'dog'", and records an alternate theory connecting it to Hebrew kol "whole, all of" and lev "heart". Because the entry itself hedges with "most likely", this profile marks the etymology as likely rather than established. The biblical Caleb was one of the twelve spies sent by Moses into Canaan; Behind the Name notes that he and Joshua were the only Israelites who left Egypt with Moses and lived to see the Promised Land. As an English given name, Caleb came into use after the Protestant Reformation and was common among the Puritans, who introduced it to America in the 17th century. The spelling Kaleb is listed as a variant and Cale as a diminutive.
Editorial confidence: likely
Linguistic roots
| Language | Form | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Hebrew | kelev (כֶּלֶב) | dog (most likely origin) |
| Hebrew | kol (כֹּל) + lev (לֵב) | whole, all of + heart (alternate theory) |
Competing or overlapping origins
- Behind the Name treats the link to Hebrew kelev "dog" as the most likely origin but records an alternate theory deriving the name from kol "whole, all of" and lev "heart"; the entry does not settle which is correct.
Popularity
Caleb ranked #58 for boys in the United States in 2025 (Social Security Administration). Behind the Name reports the same 2025 US rank. The entry's historical note is that the name became common among the Puritans and reached America with them in the 17th century; no other trend data was in the fetched entry.
| Region | Year | Rank | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 2025 | #58 | ssa-2025 |
Nicknames, variants, and related names
Nicknames: Cale
Variants: Kaleb
Related names: Chaleb, Kalev, Joshua
What the name feels like
Caleb sits in the group of Old Testament names that feel settled rather than austere: two syllables, a bright opening vowel and a soft ending. Its Puritan history gives it an early-American, plain-spoken air, while the spy-of-Canaan story lends it a note of steadfastness.
Style tags: biblical, Hebrew, Puritan, two syllables
Editorial interpretation: The style impressions above are editorial judgment, not linguistic fact. Only the etymology, the biblical story and the Puritan history are drawn from Behind the Name.
If you like this name
Editorial suggestions: names that share Caleb's biblical origin or its short, two-syllable shape.
Similar by origin
Similar by sound
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Caleb mean?
Caleb is most likely related to Hebrew kelev, "dog". Behind the Name also records an alternate theory that derives it from kol "whole, all of" and lev "heart", so the meaning is not settled.
Is Caleb a biblical name?
Yes. In the Old Testament, Caleb is one of the twelve spies Moses sent into Canaan, and with Joshua one of only two Israelites who left Egypt with Moses and lived to see the Promised Land.
How popular is the name Caleb?
Caleb ranked #58 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.
Sources
- Behind the Name: Meaning, origin and history of the name Caleb — supports etymology, competing origins, biblical story, Puritan history, pronunciation, variants.
- U.S. Social Security Administration: Popular Baby Names — national data, year of birth 2025 — supports popularity.
