Callen
How to say it: KAL-un · /ˈkælən/
Variant of Calan or Callan, likely from Gaelic 'caol' meaning slender, or a surname used as a given name.
Callen was the 146th most popular boys’ name in the United States in 2025, given to 579 babies (Social Security Administration). The 2020s are its busiest decade so far, its births are up 2.5-fold in ten years, and it is projected to rise to #72 by 2030.
Updated · SSA 2025 data, published May 2026 · Insee 2025 data, published July 2026 · How we compute these figures
Key facts
| Rank among boys’ names, 2025 | #146 |
|---|---|
| Babies born in 2025 | 579 |
| Share of births | 1 in 1,215 |
| Peak decade | 2020s |
| Change over 10 years | ×2.5 |
| Projected rank for 2030 (estimate) | #72 |
| In France, 2025 | #1,664 among boys’ names, 5 births |
Sources: Social Security Administration (SSA), Insee (France). How we compute these figures.
Its life, decade by decade
Right now marks the strongest period yet for Callen in the 2020s. More growth is anticipated from here.
What goes with it
Both soft and crisp, it lands firmly in two beats. Cal works as a short form, while Colton suits as a stylistic match.
Nicknames
- Cal
Honouring a Callen in the family
In the classroom
In a class of 25 children born in 2025, the chance that another child is called Callen is about 1 in 51.
Around the world
This spelling is used in English, French.
In France: #1,664 for boys in 2025.
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