Cal

Cal - A very unique male name

Cal appeared on the charts for the first time in 1915 on position #1205. In this article you'll learn the history of this name, statistics, see famous people named Cal and more.
Are you having a baby or looking to learn more about the name Cal? Our experts and editorial staff have gathered trends and insights for 30,000+ baby names over the last 100 years -- And on this page you will learn everything you ever wanted to know about the name Cal. The baby boy name Cal was given to 521 baby boys in 2025, ranking #538 on the national boy baby name top chart.


With that position 1 in 2,814 baby boys were given this name - making this a very unique male name according to our Popularity Score algorithm. Cal peaked in popularity 1 years ago in 2025 on position 538.

Famous with this name

How would you rate Cal, 1-5?

Cal is currently topping the charts in...

Did you know that popularity can vary a lot between states? Cal is currently topping the baby name charts in Wyoming at position #95 - and is the least popular in North Carolina at position #1,167.

Why care about state specific baby name charts? It could be that a name that is very popular on the national overall charts is less (or even more) popular where you live. So make sure you check out the state specific charts below and find out how popular or unique Cal is where you live.

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Cal origin and meaning

English — short form

A short form shared by Calvin, Caleb, Callum, Calvert and other Cal- names, so no single meaning can be claimed for it alone

Cal has been used as a standalone name since the early 1900s, but its modern surge is new: from #975 in 2020 to a peak in 2025, riding the one-syllable nickname-name wave. Which Cal- name it is short for varies by family.

Origin uncertain

Cal is a 3 letter name with 1 syllables.

To see famous people named Cal, pop culture references for the name Cal and nicknames & variations - visit Nameberry or Wikipedia.

Similar to Cal

We've found the following names that sound similar to Cal, sorted by popularity.

Cole / Cecil / Clay / Cleo / Cale / Cael / Cecilio / Cyle / Cheskel / Coley /

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Name statistics

Most parents-to-be know if they want a popular or unique name, and with these charts and data tables you can easily get a better understanding of how popular or unique this name is.

With a quick glance you can easily tell if this name is increasing or declining in popularity - But note that its current popularity can actually differ a lot from state to state.

Chart position per year (visualized)

Chart position per state (visualized)

Chart position per year (table view)

Chart position per state (table view)

Even more about Cal

These are some of the common questions you may want to have answered to know if this is the perfect name for your baby.

Is Cal a common or unique name?

By analyzing the number of births and frequency of this name we've determined that it's currently a very unique male name.

What is the number of syllables for the name Cal?

1 syllables. Why is this important? One of the things that makes a baby name sound good and have a nice rythm is the number of syllables - and especially the number of syllables along with the syllable count for your last name. A simple rule is to avoid having the same number of syllables in your first, middle and last name.

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Pronunciation

KAL · /kæl/

Around the world

No traditional forms in other languages — this name was created in America in our own time.

Famous bearers

• Cal Ripken Jr. — American baseball Hall of Famer, the 'Iron Man' of 2,632 consecutive games; born Calvin Ripken and universally known as Cal (b. 1960) Contemporary

Style

Nickname nameShort form

Why parents choose it

Three letters, no fuss — parents like a ready-made nickname with a sporty, all-American feel.

Worth knowing

• Most people will assume it is short for Calvin or Caleb and ask which.