Cal
How to say it: KAL · /ˈkæl/
Short form of Calvin, Caleb, or Callum; also used independently. Used as a standalone name with a relaxed, vintage feel.
Cal was the 486th most popular boys’ name in the United States in 2025, given to 554 babies (Social Security Administration). The 2020s are its busiest decade so far, its births are up 3.0-fold in ten years, and it is projected to rise to #281 by 2030.
Updated · SSA 2025 data, published May 2026 · How we compute these figures
Key facts
| Rank among boys’ names, 2025 | #486 |
|---|---|
| Babies born in 2025 | 554 |
| Share of births | 1 in 5,399 |
| Peak decade | 2020s |
| Change over 10 years | ×3.0 |
| Projected rank for 2030 (estimate) | #281 |
Sources: Social Security Administration (SSA). How we compute these figures.
Its life, decade by decade
Momentum has carried Cal to its best showing in the 2020s. Still at that high point, it looks likely to move higher.
What goes with it
One clipped syllable makes Cal sound sharp and easygoing at once. Gus and Ford echo that spare charm.
Other spellings
Honouring a Cal in the family
In the classroom
In a class of 25 children born in 2025, the chance that another child is called Cal is about under 1 in 200.
Around the world
This spelling is used in English.
Famous people named Cal
- Cal Crutchlow (born 1985)British motorcycle racer
- Cal Ripken Jr. (born 1960)American retired baseball player
- Cal Clutterbuck (born 1987)Canadian ice hockey player
From Wikidata and Wikipedia
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