Kalob

Meaning & origin

Kalob is an uncommon modern respelling of the traditional name Caleb, first appearing in U.S. records in 1977. It reached its peak popularity in 2000, ranking at its highest point before beginning a steady decline since 2001. By 2025, the name's rank had fallen to 10,695, with approximately 1 in every 284,679 male births receiving the name. Unlike its parent name Caleb, which consistently ranks in the top 50, Kalob remains a rare choice, favored by parents seeking a distinctive spelling. The name has no strong association with any particular state or region, reflecting its scattered, low-frequency usage. While its meaning connects to the Hebrew origin of Caleb, Kalob stands on its own as a modern, creative variation.

Kalob likely arose as a modern spelling variant of Caleb, a Hebrew name meaning 'dog' or 'faithful'. The name Caleb appears in the Old Testament as a faithful spy, and its use as a given name increased among Puritans. Kalob, with its distinctive 'K' spelling, emerged in the late 20th century as part of a trend toward creative respellings of traditional names.