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Home › Baby Names Directory › Cale

Cale

♂ Boy

Pronounced KAYL /ˈkeɪl/High

Meaning: Short form of Caleb, the Hebrew name traditionally read as 'whole-hearted' or linked to the word for 'dog', a figure of loyaltyMedium

In 30 seconds: Caleb stripped to one stride: Cale keeps the scout's whole-hearted loyalty in a single syllable. Hockey's Cale Makar gave it highlight-reel cool.
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Origin MediumHebrew, English
MeaningShort form of Caleb, the Hebrew name traditionally read as 'whole-hearted' or linked to the word for 'dog', a figure of loyalty
U.S. rank (2025)#2722 ↗ Rising
2025 U.S. births47 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)
Peak year2008
Total births (all-time)≈ 8,207

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 200819172025

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Cale is the compact form of Caleb, the Hebrew name of the faithful scout in Numbers; tradition reads it as 'whole-hearted' (kol lev, 'all heart') or links it to kelev, 'dog', as an emblem of devotion. As an independent name Cale rode the one-syllable wave of Cole and Kane through recent decades.

Rock history knows the surname through Velvet Underground co-founder John Cale, and the NHL's Cale Makar made the given name famous on skates. It remains an uncommon, brisk alternative to ever-popular Caleb.

Did you know? The biblical Caleb was one of only two scouts who believed Israel could enter the promised land — and one of the two who lived to do it.
Overall data confidence 82%
Behind the Name — Caleb — root etymology, debated

Variations

CalebKaleCael

Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

  • ★Cale Makar (1998–present)
    Canadian NHL defenseman, Norris Trophy and Stanley Cup winner with Colorado.

If you like Cale…

Caleb— the biblical name Cale abbreviates
Cole— the rhyming one-syllable staple
Kane— a fellow crisp K-sound minimal name
Kole— another English name
Dale— lands in the same popularity range

Explore names like Cale

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Cale mean?

Cale is a short form of Caleb, traditionally read as 'whole-hearted' or linked to the Hebrew word for 'dog' as an emblem of loyalty.

How do you pronounce Cale?

It's said KAYL /ˈkeɪl/ — a single syllable.

Is Cale a boy or girl name?

Cale is a boy's name.

How popular is Cale?

Cale is an uncommon name in the U.S., the lean cousin of the popular Caleb.

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