Cal

Cal: name meaning, origin & popularity

Meaning
“bald; or little rock”
Origin
English
Say it
KAL · 1 syllable
Used for
Boys

Usually a short form of names such as Calvin or Caleb. As a standalone name, its meaning depends on the fuller source name used. The origin of this name is not settled among etymologists.

How popular is Cal?

2024123 per million US babies
1880192019602000
Drag the line or the slider to read any year. Values are per million US births recorded by Social Security. Records before about 1937 undercount births, so early peaks can look taller than they were.

Babies named Cal in 2024408

2024 rank#670 boys

Peak year2024

Total US babies since 18807,313

Cal is rising: use over the last five years is 3.6× what it was a decade earlier.

Names like Cal

Variants, related forms and names with the same roots.

  • JackGod is gracious · English
  • Hudsonson of Hudd · English
  • Jacksonson of Jack · English
  • Cartercart driver · English
  • Wyattbrave in war · English
  • Maverickindependent person · English
  • Masonstoneworker · English
  • Graysonson of the steward · English

Cal questions

What does the name Cal mean?

Cal means "bald; or little rock". It comes from English. Usually a short form of names such as Calvin or Caleb. As a standalone name, its meaning depends on the fuller source name used.

Is Cal a boy or girl name?

Cal is mainly a boy's name in US records (100% of uses since 1880).

How popular is Cal?

408 US babies were named Cal in 2024. Its peak year was 2024.

How do you pronounce Cal?

Cal is usually pronounced KAL.

Birth counts: US Social Security Administration national data, 1880–2024 (names given to 5+ babies of a sex in a year). How we write meanings.