A 1900s favorite, climbing again.
Popularity of Caldwell since 1906
Babies named Caldwell per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1918, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Caldwell's real moment was 1906.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1900s | 13 |
| 1910s | 113 |
| 1920s | 115 |
| 1930s | 73 |
| 1940s | 89 |
| 1950s | 47 |
| 1960s | 12 |
| 1970s | 6 |
| 1980s | 10 |
| 1990s | 18 |
| 2000s | 23 |
| 2010s | 55 |
| 2020s | 62 |
Meaning & origin
Caldwell first appeared in U.S. birth records in 1906 and reached its peak rank that same year, though with very few births. After nearly a century of minimal use, it began rising in popularity in 2006 and continues to trend upward. As of 2025, the name sits at rank 5861, given to roughly 1 in every 113,872 newborn boys. Caldwell is a surname-style given name with English and Scottish roots, evoking a cold spring or stream. Its revival reflects the broader fashion for occupational and place surnames as first names, particularly those ending in '-well'. Though it has not yet broken into the top ranks, Caldwell's steady climb suggests growing appeal among parents seeking distinctive yet familiar-sounding names.
Caldwell is a surname transferred to given name use, derived from several places in Scotland and England named Caldwell. The name comes from Old English 'ceald' (cold) and 'well(a)' (well, spring, stream), referring to a cold spring or stream. It has been used occasionally as a first name since the late 19th century.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Cal, Cally
Variants: Caldwell, Coldwell
Sibling names for Caldwell
Names that share Caldwell's style, for a brother or sister.
