Calder

At a Glance: Name: Calder – Meaning: rough or hard-flowing water – Origin: Scottish (Cumbric river name) – Gender: Boy – Pronunciation: KAWL-der

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Calder is a boy's name with Scottish roots, coming from a Cumbric river name that means rough or hard-flowing water. It's pronounced KAWL-der, and it fits a worldly style if you're drawn to place-based names with a sense of movement.

Meaning & Origin of Calder

Meaning: Rough or hard-flowing water.

Origin: Scottish (Cumbric river name).

Source: Wiktionary.

How to Pronounce Calder

Phonetic: KAWL-der   IPA: /ˈkɔːldər/

Popularity of Calder

Calder peaked at #1444 in 2016 with 120 babies given the name, and by 2024 it had slipped to #1991 with 77 babies — a small, steady name that's never been common but has held on for decades.

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration birth-name data, 1980–2024.

Make Calder Name Art

Free printable nursery art for Calder, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.

Names With a Similar Story

Derived from shared style, era, and origin data (or, for names we have no style data for, a similar Social Security popularity trajectory) — not a hand-picked list.

• Alistair
• Arran
• Glen
• Innes
• Lachlan
• Monroe

FAQ

What does the name Calder mean?

Rough or hard-flowing water. (Source: Wiktionary, https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Calder)

How do you pronounce Calder?

Calder is pronounced KAWL-der (IPA: /ˈkɔːldər/).

Is Calder a popular name right now?

Calder peaked at #1444 in 2016 and is ranked #1991 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1980–2024.)

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