This post contains affiliate links.
At a Glance
- Origin
- Unclear (possibly short form of Caleb)
- Gender
- Used for both boys and girls
- Pronunciation
- KAYL
Cale's origin isn't fully settled, but it's most often traced as a short form connected to Caleb. You may see Cale described as meaning "brave," but that claim doesn't hold up: no dictionary source backs it, and it's unrelated to the French word "cale," meaning wedge.
Meaning & Origin of Cale
Origin: unclear (possibly short form of Caleb).
A common claim: Brave Actually: Cale is often glossed as Hebrew for 'brave,' but no dictionary source supports this; it's likely just a short form related to Caleb, unrelated to the French noun 'cale' (wedge).
Source: Wiktionary.
How to Pronounce Cale
KAYLIPA /keɪl/
Popularity of Cale
Cale peaked at #596 in 1984, when 203 babies got the name; by 2024 it had fallen to #3219, with just 37 babies given the name that year.
Names Like Cale
These names have followed a similar path to Cale in U.S. popularity over the years.
FAQ
What does the name Cale mean?
Brave Cale is often glossed as Hebrew for ‘brave,’ but no dictionary source supports this; it’s likely just a short form related to Caleb, unrelated to the French noun ‘cale’ (wedge).
How do you pronounce Cale?
Cale is pronounced KAYL (IPA: /keɪl/).
Is Cale a popular name right now?
Cale peaked at #596 in 1984 and is ranked #3219 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1917–2024.)
Make Cale Name Art
Free printable nursery art for Cale, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.
📊 How popular is Cale? See the full popularity history, trend data, and ranking since 1880 with our free Baby Name Popularity Checker.
🎲 Think you know your baby names? Take the quiz!
📱 The Baby Names app is here
Swipe names, match with your partner the moment you both say yes, and claim a free Name Art print of your winner. Free to download. See all our apps →
