Holding steady, #8,243 for boys today.
Popularity of Calel since 2004
Babies named Calel per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 2015, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Calel's real moment was 2022.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 2000s | 37 |
| 2010s | 91 |
| 2020s | 72 |
Meaning & origin
Calel is a modern name that first appeared on the U.S. baby name charts in 2004, making it a relatively recent addition to the naming landscape. It reached its peak popularity in 2022, though even then its rank was modest. With approximately 1 in 189,786 babies given this name in the latest year, Calel remains uncommon. Its trajectory is stable, indicating consistent but low-level usage. The top states for Calel are not widely concentrated, suggesting scattered adoption across the country. The name likely draws from the comic book character Kal-El, with the spelling simplified to Calel. Parents seeking a distinctive, contemporary name with a subtle pop-culture nod may find Calel appealing.
Calel appears to be a modern coinage, possibly a variant spelling of Kalel, which became known through the comic book character Kal-El (Superman). The name lacks a clear historical or linguistic derivation. It has been used in the United States since 2004, suggesting recent invention or adoption.
Nicknames & variants
Variants: Kalel, Kal-El
Sibling names for Calel
Names that share Calel's style, for a brother or sister.
