Kal

Meaning: Not established
Origin: Undetermined — Short form of names beginning with Kal-

Boy's name · #2320 in the US (2025) · Trending

Popularity over time

Kal is climbing: on the charts since 1947, it is ranked #2320 in 2025, with about 60 boys given the name last year. Roughly 1,300 have carried it all-time.

Across the states

See where Kal is more common.

Appears in 2020-2025 birth records of 3 states. See the full state-by-state map on this page.

Around the world

See how Kal ranks in other countries and regions.

#271 in Slovenia (2025) · #2,144 in Sweden (2025) · #2,269 in Canada (2025) · #3,256 in England & Wales (2025) · #472 in Scotland (2022) · #657 in Ireland (2022) · #2,681 in Austria (2021) · #5,006 in France (2021) · #392 in N. Ireland (2020) · #7,023 in Ecuador (2018).

Famous Kals

Kal Penn — American actor and civil servant (born 1977)
Kal Naismith — Scottish footballer (born 1992)
Kal Naga — Egyptian actor (born 1966)
Kal David — Blues guitarist, singer and songwriter (1943–2022)
Kal Mann — American rock and roll lyricist (1917–2001)

In stories & tradition

Kal (Superman) — DC Comics superhero
Kal (Superboy-Prime) — DC Comics character
Kal — The Cave of Skulls (TV episode)

What Kals become

Among 27 notable people named Kal:

Entertainers appear 2.63× more often than among typical names — e.g. Kal Penn, American actor and civil servant (born 1977).

Spellings & nicknames

Kal is the less common spelling of Cal — about 10% of babies given the name are written this way; Cal itself ranked #543 in 2025.

Similar names: Cal · Banner · Cai · Locke · Kallum · Kaleo

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

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