Rising since 2016, #4,707 for boys today.
Popularity of Calcifer since 2016
Babies named Calcifer per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 2010s | 36 |
| 2020s | 103 |
Meaning & origin
Calcifer is a modern invented name, first recorded in U.S. births in 2016. It ranked 4,707 in 2025, with about 1 in 81,337 newborns receiving the name. Its popularity has been rising since its debut, with a peak in 2023. The name is almost certainly inspired by the fire demon Calcifer from Diana Wynne Jones's 'Howl's Moving Castle' (1986) and its 2005 film adaptation by Studio Ghibli. No top states have been recorded for this name, suggesting its use remains scattered. As a modern coinage, its etymology is uncertain, but its whimsical, fiery sound fits with a trend toward literary and fantasy names.
Calcifer is a modern invention, first appearing as the name of a fire demon in Diana Wynne Jones's 1986 fantasy novel 'Howl's Moving Castle'. The name may have been inspired by Latin words related to heat or stone, but no direct linguistic root is established. Its use as a personal name began after the 2005 Studio Ghibli film adaptation brought the character to a wider audience.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Cal, Cifer
Sibling names for Calcifer
Names that share Calcifer's style, for a brother or sister.
