Calen
Calen is a boy's name of Greek origin.
Meaning
Slender, narrow, or pure.
Origin and history
Calen is a modern masculine given name that functions both as a variant of the Irish name Caelan (meaning 'slender' or 'narrow') and as a masculine form derived from the Greek name Callen or Katherine ('pure'). In the United States, it emerged in the late 20th century as an alternative to names like Caleb and Kaelen. It remains a rare but steadily used choice in contemporary U.S. birth records.
Popularity in the United States
2,494 babies in the United States have been named Calen since 1880. It ranks #2595 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #1655.
States where it is most popular
- CA (32.1 %)
- TX (20.1 %)
- IL (7.6 %)
- OH (7 %)
- GA (5.6 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 0 |
| 1890-1900 | 0 |
| 1900-1910 | 0 |
| 1910-1920 | 0 |
| 1920-1930 | 0 |
| 1930-1940 | 0 |
| 1940-1950 | 0 |
| 1950-1960 | 0 |
| 1960-1970 | 0 |
| 1970-1980 | 29 |
| 1980-1990 | 372 |
| 1990-2000 | 455 |
| 2000-2010 | 650 |
| 2010-2019 | 716 |
| 2020-2029 | 272 |
Fun facts
- Calen is often selected either as a simplified spelling of the Gaelic name Caelan or as a masculine derivative of Greek names linked to purity.
- The name gained traction alongside the late-20th-century trend of two-syllable names ending in the 'len' sound.