Cal
Meaning
short form of Calvin, from Latin 'calvus' meaning 'bald'
The formal names behind Cal
Cal is an established short form of each of these names.
Calvin · French origin · from surname Cauvin, "little bald one"
Callum · Scottish origin · dove
Callahan · Irish origin · Irish surname meaning 'descendant of Ceallachán', traditionally linked to 'strife' or 'bright-headed'
Caleb · Hebrew origin · traditionally "whole-hearted," often linked to the Hebrew for "dog" as an emblem of devotion; the scout who kept faith in the wilderness and entered the promised land. A Puritan favorite returned as a modern staple, with Cal for short
Popularity, 1890–2024
Shape drawn from US Social Security baby-name records. Cal peaked in the 2020s.
See popularity in Brazil
Popularity in Brazil
69 people · the #53,441 first name in Brazil · median age 36
Source: IBGE, Censo Demográfico 2022
The Cal deep dive
Whether you’re naming a baby or exploring your own name’s history, this is a personal letter, not a list: where Cal truly comes from, how it traveled, and what a century of records reveals. If you have grown a tree on nametree, it also considers how Cal fits with your family’s names and surname.
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