Cale
Boy name · #2730 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Cale? In official American birth records, Cale has been tracked continuously since 1917, giving it 108 years of documented American history.
Cale is currently the #2730 boy name in the United States — 47 babies received it in 2025. A decade ago it stood at #1279, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 38,298 boys born in 2025 was named Cale.
The 108-year story
Cale first appears in the Social Security records in 1917, when 8 boys received the name. Its peak came in 2008, when 395 boys were named Cale — good for #624 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Babies named Cale per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Cale against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Cale in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Cale is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Cale will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Cale is most common
State-level data for Cale is too sparse in 2025 to rank by rate — in most states its count falls below the SSA's per-state reporting threshold (counts under 5 are withheld).
Names like Cale
Statistically, parents drawn to Cale tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Chace, Tye, Elie, Blayne, and Cavan.
ChaceTyeElieBlayneCavanDavinCyChayse
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Cale | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 47 | #2718 |
| 2024 | 37 | #3216 |
| 2023 | 31 | #3629 |
| 2022 | 44 | #2873 |
| 2021 | 33 | #3427 |
| 2020 | 41 | #2886 |
| 2019 | 43 | #2851 |
| 2018 | 42 | #2848 |
| 2017 | 58 | #2270 |
| 2016 | 91 | #1706 |
| 2015 | 140 | #1279 |
| 2014 | 175 | #1093 |
| 2013 | 180 | #1054 |
| 2012 | 227 | #909 |
| 2011 | 259 | #833 |
| 2010 | 339 | #691 |
| 2009 | 366 | #669 |
| 2008 | 395 | #624 |
| 2007 | 323 | #714 |
| 2006 | 288 | #741 |
| 2005 | 262 | #758 |
| 2004 | 233 | #778 |
| 2003 | 237 | #754 |
| 2002 | 232 | #746 |
| 2001 | 194 | #837 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Cale?
In official American birth records, the name Cale first appeared in 1917 (over 108 years ago), when 8 newborn boys received the name. It has been tracked in modern national records for 108 years.
Is Cale a popular boy name?
Cale ranked #2730 among boys in 2025 with 47 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #1279.
When was the name Cale most popular?
Cale peaked in 2008, when 395 American boys received the name (ranked #624 that year). Since 2008 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Cale?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 38,298 newborn American boys was named Cale. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "very rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.