Cale

At a Glance: Name: Cale – Origin: unclear (possibly short form of Caleb) – Gender: used for both boys and girls

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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.

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.

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration birth-name data via names_full.json, 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.

Names With a Similar Story

Derived from shared style, era, and origin data (or, for names without a catalog record, a similar Social Security popularity trajectory) — not a hand-picked list.

• Alain
• Japheth
• Kassie
• Rachelle
• Brandt
• Artemio

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).

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.)

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