Kalab

A boy's name of Hebrew origin with 463 recorded U.S. births.

Boy's nameRare nameNot ranked recently

Meaning & Origin

a male surname

Kalab is a boy's baby name of Hebrew origin, a variant spelling of Caleb — from Hebrew Kalev meaning 'dog' (loyal and devoted) or 'whole-hearted.' In the Old Testament, Caleb was one of the twelve spies sent into Canaan, and one of only two men of his generation to enter the Promised Land.

Kalab is a K-initial respelling of Caleb that appeared in American records from the late 20th century. Caleb has been strongly popular in the United States since the 1990s, and this variant carries the same loyal, wholehearted Biblical meaning in a more unusual written form.

EtymologyShow more

Names travel. They cross oceans, change spelling, shift pronunciation, and accumulate new associations with each culture that adopts them. Kalab is rooted in the Hebrew tradition, but its presence in American naming since 1987 means it has been shaped by English phonetics, local customs, and the cultural context of the families who chose it.

Kalab’s rarity (463 recorded births) may indicate it is strongly tied to a specific cultural community or family tradition, rather than part of the broader American naming mainstream.

At a Glance

Unranked

Current Rank

463

Total births

Since 1987

1999

Peak year

30 births

Compare Kalab with another name

Popularity Over Time

Kalab has 33+ years of history in the U.S., first appearing in 1987.

First appeared: 1987Peak: 1999 (30 births)

Popularity by Decade

Decade-by-decade popularity data for Kalab
Decade	Births	Avg Rank	Trend
2020s	19	#11001	▼
2010s	75	#8780	▼
2000s	184	#4927	▲
1990s	161	#4253	▲
1980s	24	#5359	—

The Story of Kalab

A Gen Z name

Peaking in 1999, Kalab is a name that defines a generation. Boys named Kalab are most likely born between 1989 and 2009.

How rare is Kalab?

With fewer than 500 recorded births, Kalab is an exceptionally rare name — a one-of-a-kind choice.

The journey through the decades

First appeared in the records in 1987, peaked in the 2000s with 184 births that decade, and has since become a rare, vintage choice.

Kalab by the numbers

Would fill 10 school buses
Meeting one Kalab per day would take 1.3 years

Year-by-Year Data

View complete yearly data(33 years, 1987–2023)

Year-by-year popularity data for the name Kalab
Year	Births	Rank	Change
2023	6	#11512	0
2021	6	#11426	-1 (-14.3%)
2020	7	#10065	0
2018	7	#10193	+1 (16.7%)
2017	6	#11466	0
2016	6	#11423	-3 (-33.3%)
2014	9	#8466	-3 (-25.0%)
2013	12	#6815	+2 (20.0%)
2012	10	#7842	+1 (11.1%)
2011	9	#8427	-7 (-43.8%)
2010	16	#5609	+4 (33.3%)
2009	12	#7029	-3 (-20.0%)
2008	15	#5926	+1 (7.1%)
2007	14	#6093	-11 (-44.0%)
2006	25	#3944	+6 (31.6%)
2005	19	#4559	-4 (-17.4%)
2004	23	#3943	+6 (35.3%)
2003	17	#4713	-8 (-32.0%)
2002	25	#3507	+13 (108.3%)
2001	12	#5850	-10 (-45.5%)

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Kalab a boy's or girl's name?

Kalab is primarily a boy's name.

When was Kalab most popular?

Kalab reached its peak popularity in 1999 with 30 births that year. It is not currently in the top rankings.

How popular is the name Kalab?

Kalab is not currently in the top rankings but has been given to 463 babies in the U.S. since 1987. Its peak was in 1999.

Explore More

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Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1987–2023