Calen
Boy name · #3342 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Calen? In official American birth records, Calen has been tracked continuously since 1977, giving it 48 years of documented American history.
In 2025, 35 baby boys were named Calen, placing it at #3342 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #2212, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 51,429 boys born in 2025 was named Calen.
The 48-year story
Calen first appears in the Social Security records in 1977, when 12 boys received the name. Its peak came in 2011, when 103 boys were named Calen — good for #1533 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 Calen per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Calen against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Calen in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Calen is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Calen will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Calen is most common
State-level data for Calen 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 Calen
Statistically, parents drawn to Calen tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Kaylen, Alen, Nolen, Halen, and Cullen.
KaylenAlenNolenHalenCullenKalenCavanToren
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Calen | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 35 | #3314 |
| 2024 | 47 | #2750 |
| 2023 | 51 | #2575 |
| 2022 | 52 | #2589 |
| 2021 | 43 | #2862 |
| 2020 | 44 | #2759 |
| 2019 | 50 | #2582 |
| 2018 | 58 | #2300 |
| 2017 | 42 | #2840 |
| 2016 | 66 | #2110 |
| 2015 | 61 | #2212 |
| 2014 | 69 | #2044 |
| 2013 | 79 | #1811 |
| 2012 | 92 | #1668 |
| 2011 | 103 | #1533 |
| 2010 | 96 | #1626 |
| 2009 | 68 | #2035 |
| 2008 | 74 | #1932 |
| 2007 | 90 | #1681 |
| 2006 | 77 | #1790 |
| 2005 | 57 | #2129 |
| 2004 | 58 | #2051 |
| 2003 | 48 | #2238 |
| 2002 | 58 | #1916 |
| 2001 | 60 | #1841 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Calen?
In official American birth records, the name Calen first appeared in 1977 (over 48 years ago), when 12 newborn boys received the name. It has been tracked in modern national records for 48 years.
Is Calen a popular boy name?
Calen ranked #3342 among boys in 2025 with 35 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #2212.
When was the name Calen most popular?
Calen peaked in 2011, when 103 American boys received the name (ranked #1533 that year). Since 2011 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Calen?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 51,429 newborn American boys was named Calen. 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.