Kaleb
Boy name · #295 in 2025 · Distinctive
How old is the name Kaleb? In official American birth records, Kaleb has been tracked continuously since 1970, giving it 55 years of documented American history.
Kaleb is currently the #295 boy name in the United States — 1,143 babies received it in 2025. A decade ago it stood at #164, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 1,575 boys born in 2025 was named Kaleb.
The 55-year story
Kaleb first appears in the Social Security records in 1970, when 6 boys received the name. Its peak came in 2007, when 3,819 boys were named Kaleb — good for #113 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 Kaleb per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Kaleb against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Kaleb in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Kaleb is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "distinctive". That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Kaleb is most common
Geography matters for names, and Kaleb is no exception. Adjusted for how many boys are born in each state, Kaleb is most common in MS (1.4 per 1,000), AR (1.4 per 1,000), NV (1.3 per 1,000), FL (1.2 per 1,000), AL (1.2 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 0.8 per 1,000 boys. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Kaleb is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Names like Kaleb
Statistically, parents drawn to Kaleb tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Kaden, Gavin, Brady, Josue, and Keegan.
KadenGavinBradyJosueKeeganRileyPrestonKyler
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Kaleb | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1,143 | #295 |
| 2024 | 1,225 | #279 |
| 2023 | 1,241 | #271 |
| 2022 | 1,343 | #259 |
| 2021 | 1,455 | #243 |
| 2020 | 1,614 | #231 |
| 2019 | 1,789 | #213 |
| 2018 | 1,927 | #207 |
| 2017 | 2,116 | #184 |
| 2016 | 2,261 | #176 |
| 2015 | 2,535 | #164 |
| 2014 | 2,770 | #146 |
| 2013 | 2,871 | #137 |
| 2012 | 2,997 | #126 |
| 2011 | 3,344 | #116 |
| 2010 | 3,429 | #118 |
| 2009 | 3,787 | #108 |
| 2008 | 3,710 | #115 |
| 2007 | 3,819 | #113 |
| 2006 | 3,704 | #115 |
| 2005 | 3,392 | #121 |
| 2004 | 3,421 | #120 |
| 2003 | 3,403 | #118 |
| 2002 | 3,446 | #111 |
| 2001 | 3,336 | #116 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Kaleb?
In official American birth records, the name Kaleb first appeared in 1970 (over 55 years ago), when 6 newborn boys received the name. It has been tracked in modern national records for 55 years.
Is Kaleb a popular boy name?
Kaleb ranked #295 among boys in 2025 with 1,143 babies given the name — inside the top 500: established but not ubiquitous. Ten years earlier it ranked #164.
When was the name Kaleb most popular?
Kaleb peaked in 2007, when 3,819 American boys received the name (ranked #113 that year). Since 2007 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Kaleb?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 1,575 newborn American boys was named Kaleb. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "distinctive".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.