Rising since 1988, #542 for boys today.
Popularity of Cal since 1880
Babies named Cal per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 104 |
| 1890s | 87 |
| 1900s | 59 |
| 1910s | 176 |
| 1920s | 249 |
| 1930s | 215 |
| 1940s | 309 |
| 1950s | 538 |
| 1960s | 458 |
| 1970s | 288 |
| 1980s | 333 |
| 1990s | 689 |
| 2000s | 903 |
| 2010s | 1,273 |
| 2020s | 2,177 |
Meaning & origin
Cal, a straightforward and friendly shortening of Calvin, has seen a steady rise in popularity since the late 1980s, reaching its peak rank of 542 in 2025. Historically, Cal was first recorded in U.S. birth data in 1880, but it remained uncommon for decades. Its resurgence reflects a broader trend toward short, classic-sounding nicknames used as full given names. In 2025, about 1 in 3,083 baby boys received the name Cal, and it has climbed from obscurity to a solid mid-tier choice. The name is most popular in Wyoming, North Dakota, and Utah, suggesting a particular appeal in the Mountain West and Intermountain regions. Despite its brevity, Cal carries the weight of its connection to the influential surname Calvin, giving it a grounded, everyman quality that fits comfortably alongside other concise modern classics.
Cal is a diminutive of Calvin, a name that originated as a French surname from the Latin Calvus, meaning 'bald'. It gained prominence through John Calvin, the 16th-century Protestant reformer. As an independent given name, Cal has been used in English-speaking countries since the 19th century.
Where Cal is most popular
Births per 100,000 boys by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Cal” around the world
Where Cal lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
Ireland
6
babies in 2025
Sources: CSO Ireland (Ireland).
Sibling names for Cal
Names that share Cal's style, for a brother or sister.
