Caleb is a name of Hebrew origin that means "devotion" or "faithfulness". It comes from the Hebrew word "kav-el", which translates to "to bind together". Caleb was a prominent figure in the Old Testament of the Bible, known as one of the twelve spies sent by Moses to explore the Promised Land. He is remembered for his unwavering faith and devotion to God.
The name Caleb has been popular throughout history, appearing in various cultures and languages. In medieval times, it was used among Christians due to its biblical association. The name also gained popularity in England during the late Middle Ages after it appeared in Geoffrey Chaucer's Canterbury Tales. Today, Caleb is still a widely recognized name around the world.
In some cultures, Caleb has other meanings or associations apart from its original Hebrew meaning. For instance, in Welsh, Caleb means "faithful" but also has connotations of elegance and grace. In Arabic, it translates to "companion".
Overall, Caleb is an attractive, timeless name with a strong historical background rooted in biblical significance. Its meanings related to faith and devotion make it appealing to those looking for names with deep symbolic value.
The name Caleb has been given to a total of 313,215 babies born in the United States since 1880. The earliest data available shows that there were 27 births in 1880 and the number fluctuated throughout the late 19th century, with an average of around 15 births per year.
However, starting from the early 20th century, there was a significant increase in the popularity of the name Caleb. In 1914, the number of births reached 36 and it continued to rise steadily throughout the decade, peaking at 52 births in 1922.
The popularity of the name Caleb then declined slightly in the following decades, with an average of around 30-40 births per year between 1930 and 1970. However, starting from the mid-1970s, there was another significant increase in its popularity. In 1973, there were 185 births, and by 1980, this number had more than doubled to 980.
The popularity of Caleb continued to grow throughout the late 20th century and early 21st century. In the 1990s, the annual number of births ranged from around 3,500 to 7,500. The peak of its popularity was reached in the mid-2000s, with over 11,000 births per year between 2001 and 2006.
More recently, the popularity of Caleb has declined slightly but remains relatively high compared to earlier decades. In 2021, there were 5,957 births, and in 2022, there were 5,770 births.
Overall, these statistics show that the name Caleb has been given to a substantial number of babies born in the United States since it was first recorded in the late 19th century. Its popularity has fluctuated over time but has seen significant increases in recent decades.