Cal

Meaning: Bald
Origin: Variant of Calvin · from a Norman French nickname (from Norman French)

Boy's name · #543 in the US (2025) · Trending

Popularity over time

Cal is climbing: on the charts since 1880, it is ranked #543 in 2025, with about 550 boys given the name last year. Roughly 7,900 have carried it all-time.

Across the states

In recent years, Cal ran about 5× its national rate in Utah.

Appears in 2020-2025 birth records of 31 states. See the full state-by-state map on this page.

Around the world

See how Cal ranks in other countries and regions.

#411 in N. Ireland (2025) · #522 in Ireland (2025) · #798 in Scotland (2025) · #1,044 in Canada (2024).

Famous Cals

Cal Crutchlow — British motorcycle racer
Cal Ripken Jr. — American retired baseball player (born 1960)
Cal Clutterbuck — Canadian ice hockey player
Cal Tjader — American vibraphonist (1925–1982)
Cal Newport — American computer scientist, academic lecturer and writer

In stories & tradition

Cal Kestis — Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order (video game)
Cal Omas — Star Wars Legends
Cal Lightman^it — Lie to Me (TV series)

What Cals become

Among 205 notable people named Cal:

Sports figures appear 2.7× more often than among typical names — e.g. Cal Crutchlow, British motorcycle racer.

Similar names: Kal · Montgomery · Cam · Pierce · Kit · Calum

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

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