Cal

Meaning: Bald
Origin: French surname — Short form of Calvin

Meaning: Faithful, whole-hearted, possibly dog
Origin: Hebrew — Short form of Caleb

Meaning: Dove
Origin: Latin — Short form of Calum

Boy's name · #543 in the US (2025) · Trending

Popularity over time

Cal is climbing: on the charts since 1880, it is ranked #543 in 2025, with about 550 boys given the name last year. Roughly 7,900 have carried it all-time.

Across the states

In recent years, Cal ran about 5× its national rate in Utah.

Appears in 2020-2025 birth records of 31 states. See the full state-by-state map on this page.

Around the world

See how Cal ranks in other countries and regions.

#395 in N. Ireland (2025) · #509 in Ireland (2025) · #762 in Scotland (2025) · #885 in Canada (2025) · #4,275 in England & Wales (2025) · #4,227 in Ecuador (2016).

Famous Cals

Cal Ripken Jr. — American baseball player (born 1960)
Cal Raleigh — American baseball player (born 1996)
Cal Crutchlow — British motorcycle racer (born 1985)
Cal Newport — American computer scientist (born 1982)
Cal Tjader — American vibraphonist (1925–1982)

In stories & tradition

Cal Kestis — Fictional character in Star Wars
Cal Omas — Star Wars Legends
Cal Lightman^it — Lie to Me (TV series)

What Cals become

Among 205 notable people named Cal:

Sports figures appear 2.7× more often than among typical names — e.g. Cal Crutchlow, British motorcycle racer (born 1985).

Similar names: Kal · Montgomery · Cam · Pierce · Kit · Calum

Browse more boy names — popularity, trends and eras for 5,700+ American names, free.

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