Caeli
A girl's name of Latin origin with 1,161 recorded U.S. births.
Meaning & Origin
Genitive of Caelum used when naming stars, such as α Caeli.
Caeli is a girl's baby name of Latin origin, the genitive form of Caelum, meaning 'of the sky' or 'heavenly.' In Latin, caelum refers to the sky, heaven, or the celestial canopy — used in astronomy for the constellation Caelum (the engraving tool).
As a given name, Caeli carries a beautifully airy, celestial quality. It's rare — about 1,160 U.S. births recorded — with a sound that's both ancient and fresh. An elegant alternative to more common sky-themed names like Skye or Celeste.
EtymologyShow more
In the American context, Caeli is a girl's name with several decades of recorded use (1974–2024). Its Latin roots connect it to a broader naming tradition, but in practice, American usage often reshapes names — adding nicknames, shifting pronunciation, and building new associations that diverge from the original cultural context.
Today, Caeli is an active part of the American naming landscape (ranked #1660), continuing to accumulate its own cultural meaning with each new child who carries it.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Caeli climbed 3940 spots in the last 20 years — from #5600 to #1660.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 461 | ▲ |
| 2010s | 345 | ▲ |
| 2000s | 215 | ▲ |
| 1990s | 106 | ▲ |
| 1980s | 28 | ▲ |
| 1970s | 6 | — |
The Story of Caeli
A Gen Alpha name
Peaking in 2023, Caeli is a fresh, modern favorite. Girls named Caeli are most likely born between 2013 and 2024.
How rare is Caeli?
Only about 1 in every 29,268 babies born in 2024 was named Caeli — a truly uncommon choice.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1974, gained momentum through the mid-century, peaked in the 2020s with 461 births that decade.
Caeli by the numbers
- Would fill 24 school buses
- Meeting one Caeli per day would take 3.2 years
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(39 years, 1974–2024)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 123 | #1660 |
| 2023 | 148 | #1475 |
| 2022 | 86 | #2191 |
| 2021 | 56 | #2964 |
| 2020 | 48 | #3233 |
| 2019 | 52 | #3095 |
| 2018 | 30 | #4578 |
| 2017 | 36 | #4081 |
| 2016 | 39 | #3864 |
| 2015 | 37 | #4003 |
| 2014 | 34 | #4285 |
| 2013 | 30 | #4670 |
| 2012 | 42 | #3726 |
| 2011 | 31 | #4591 |
| 2010 | 14 | #8344 |
| 2009 | 21 | #6353 |
| 2008 | 24 | #5794 |
| 2007 | 16 | #7796 |
| 2006 | 20 | #6406 |
| 2005 | 22 | #5628 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Caeli a boy's or girl's name?
When was Caeli most popular?
How popular is the name Caeli?
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Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1974–2024