NameCensus.

UK boy's name

Kaleb

A masculine name of Hebrew origin meaning "wholehearted" or "faithful".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Kaleb is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Kaleb popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #308, with 145 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2023, with 155 births.

This profile covers 2,605 England and Wales registrations across 29 recorded years from 1996 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, NRS Scotland and NISRA Northern Ireland, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.

The latest count is about 94% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 3,111 living people in the UK are called Kaleb. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2025 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Kaleb ranked #308 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 145 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2023, when 155 boys were registered as Kaleb.
  • Kaleb ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #290 in 2024.
  • About 3,111 living people in the UK are estimated to have Kaleb as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#308

2024

Births in 2024

145

Latest year

Peak year

2023

155 births

Estimated living

3,111

2026

Meaning

What does Kaleb mean?

The name Kaleb has its origins in the Hebrew language and culture, with the earliest known use dating back to ancient biblical times. It is derived from the Hebrew word "kelev," which means "dog" or "faithful." In the Old Testament of the Bible, Caleb was one of the twelve spies sent by Moses to scout the land of Canaan, and he was rewarded for his faithful reporting.

In addition to its biblical roots, the name Kaleb has been popular throughout history in various cultures and regions. In ancient Greece, a similar name, "Kalibos," was used, meaning "good dog" or "loyal companion." This variation was likely influenced by the Hebrew name's meaning and association with faithfulness.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Kaleb can be found in the biblical Book of Numbers, which mentions Caleb, the son of Jephunneh, as one of the two spies who remained faithful to God during the Exodus. He was rewarded with the promise of inheriting the land of Hebron.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Kaleb. In the 4th century AD, Saint Caleb was a Christian martyr who was executed for his faith during the reign of the Roman Emperor Diocletian. Another historical figure with this name was Caleb Cushing (1800-1879), an American politician and diplomat who served as the Attorney General of the United States under President Franklin Pierce.

In the realm of literature, Caleb Williams is the title character of a novel by William Godwin, published in 1794. The novel explores themes of justice, oppression, and the pursuit of truth, and Caleb Williams represents the struggle against tyranny and corruption.

Other notable individuals named Kaleb include Caleb Bradham (1867-1934), the American pharmacist and businessman who invented the popular soft drink Pepsi-Cola, and Caleb Landry Jones (born 1989), an American actor known for his roles in films such as "Get Out" and "X-Men: First Class."

The name Kaleb has endured throughout the centuries, carrying with it a rich history and a meaning that resonates with concepts of loyalty, faithfulness, and steadfastness. Its biblical origins and cultural significance have contributed to its enduring popularity across various regions and religions.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Kaleb over time

The chart below shows babies named Kaleb registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Kaleb, the clearest high point is 2023. The latest England and Wales figure is 145 births in 2024, compared with 155 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Kaleb
03978116155199620102024

Decades

Kaleb by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Kaleb was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.

Decade Average rank Total births Years covered
2020s #331 675 5
2010s #352 1,266 10
2000s #561 554 10
1990s #680 110 4

Geography

Where Kaleb is most common

The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Kaleb. They are useful for spotting where the name is showing up in real numbers, while the rank beside each bar shows how strongly it performs inside that region.

Kaleb ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #290 in 2024.

Scotland
13
Northern Ireland
4

Across the UK

Kaleb in Scotland and Northern Ireland

Scotland (NRS)

#290 in 2024

25 years of NRS records, 407 total registered

Northern Ireland (NISRA)

#339 in 2024

17 years of NISRA records, 119 total registered

Notable bearers

Famous people named Kaleb

  • Kaleb Cooper

    farmer; writer; television personality

    British farmer and reality television personality

    1998-

Related

Names similar to Kaleb

FAQ

Kaleb: questions and answers

How popular is the name Kaleb in the UK right now?

In 2024, Kaleb was ranked #308 for boys in England and Wales, with 145 births registered.

When was Kaleb most popular?

The peak year on record was 2023, with 155 babies registered as Kaleb in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Kaleb?

A masculine name of Hebrew origin meaning "wholehearted" or "faithful".

How many people are called Kaleb in the UK?

A total of 2,605 babies have been registered as Kaleb across the 29 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 407 more in Scotland and 119 in Northern Ireland.

Where is Kaleb most common?

In the latest published local rankings, Kaleb ranks best in Scotland, where it placed #290 in 2024. The regional bars on this page use birth counts, so they also reflect the size of each region.

Which records is this page based on?

The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.