Caleb is a Hebrew name usually explained as "whole-hearted" or "faithful", from the elements kol and lev, although the word also means "dog" in Hebrew. In the Bible Caleb is one of the two scouts who trusted that Israel could enter the Promised Land, and the Puritans brought the name to New England. Caleb ranked number 38 in the United States in 2000, peaked at number 31 in 2009 and has stayed between number 37 and number 58 since, standing at number 58 among boys in 2025.