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At a Glance
- Meaning
- Faithful, devoted
- Origin
- Hebrew
- Gender
- Boy
- Pronunciation
- KAY-leb
Caleb is a Hebrew name, pronounced KAY-leb (/ˈkeɪləb/), meaning "faithful, devoted." You may see it claimed that Caleb means "wholehearted," often pointing to the biblical Caleb's wholehearted devotion — but that describes his character, not the word's roots, which trace to the Hebrew "kelev." It's a timeless classic.
Meaning & Origin of Caleb
Meaning: Faithful, devoted.
Origin: Hebrew.
A common claim: Caleb is very commonly said to mean 'wholehearted,' often citing the biblical Caleb who followed God 'wholeheartedly.' Actually: That describes the biblical Caleb's character, not the name's origin. Wiktionary derives Caleb from Hebrew kelev ('dog'), giving the sense 'faithful' or 'devoted' rather than literally 'wholehearted.'
Source: Wiktionary, Wikipedia.
How to Pronounce Caleb
KAY-lebIPA /ˈkeɪləb/
Popularity of Caleb
Caleb ranked #49 in 2024 with 5,766 babies given the name, down from its peak of #31 in 2009, when 10,999 boys received it.
Names Like Caleb
These names share Caleb’s style, era or origin.
FAQ
What does the name Caleb mean?
Faithful, devoted. (Source: Wiktionary)
How do you pronounce Caleb?
Caleb is pronounced KAY-leb (IPA: /ˈkeɪləb/).
Is Caleb a popular name right now?
Caleb peaked at #31 in 2009 and is ranked #49 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1880–2024.)
Make Caleb Name Art
Free printable nursery art for Caleb, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.
📊 How popular is Caleb? See the full popularity history, trend data, and ranking since 1880 with our free Baby Name Popularity Checker.
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