Cal
Cal is a boy's name of English origin.
Meaning
Short form of Calvin ('little bald one'), Caleb ('devotion' or 'dog'), or Callum ('dove').
Origin and history
Cal is a short-form name that traditionally originated as a nickname for longer given names such as Calvin, Caleb, or Callum. It has gained traction as an independent given name in the United States, seeing a recent rise in popularity. Its etymology depends on the root name from which it is derived, ranging from Latin to Hebrew or Gaelic.
Popularity in the United States
7,858 babies in the United States have been named Cal since 1880. It ranks #1369 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #693.
States where it is most popular
- CA (16.9 %)
- TX (12.1 %)
- WI (7.4 %)
- UT (6.2 %)
- IL (6.1 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 104 |
| 1890-1900 | 87 |
| 1900-1910 | 59 |
| 1910-1920 | 176 |
| 1920-1930 | 249 |
| 1930-1940 | 215 |
| 1940-1950 | 309 |
| 1950-1960 | 538 |
| 1960-1970 | 458 |
| 1970-1980 | 288 |
| 1980-1990 | 333 |
| 1990-2000 | 689 |
| 2000-2010 | 903 |
| 2010-2019 | 1,273 |
| 2020-2029 | 2,177 |
Famous people named Cal
- Cal Ripken Jr.: Baseball Player
- Cal Ripken Sr.: Baseball Coach, Manager
Fun facts
- Cal serves as an English short form for several distinct names of Latin, Hebrew, and Gaelic origin.
- Cal has experienced a notable increase in usage in the United States during the 2020s as concise, single-syllable names have trended.