Calen
Calen was the 3323rd most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 35 babies. Its best year was 1987, when it ranked 1177th; the most babies were born in 2011 (103). Over the last ten years it has moved down 1,109 places. More babies were named Calen in the 2000s than in any other decade.
Meaning (as Callan) Origin uncertain · Irish, Scottish Gaelic
- Rank in 2025
- #3,323 boys, down 556 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 35boys
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a boy’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 2011103 babies
- Total since 1880
- 2,720babies recorded
What does the name Calen mean?
Calen is a spelling of Callan, pronounced the same way, so it shares Callan's meaning and origin.
Callan is an Irish and Scottish surname. Wiktionary and Wikipedia derive it from Ó Cathaláin, 'descendant of Cathalán', a pet form of the Irish name Cathal; Wikipedia adds that it can also come from the Gaelic Mac Allin or Mac Callin. Cathal is usually explained as 'strong in battle', but our sources do not give that gloss. As a first name it is a recent transfer from the surname.
Ó Cathaláin (Irish, “descendant of Cathalán”)
How sure is this? Uncertain. Several Gaelic surname sources; no gloss for Cathalán in our sources.
Related names: Callen, Callum, Cathal.
See also: Irish names.
Sources for this meaning
- Wiktionary, entry 'Callan', Wiktionary (Wikimedia Foundation); facts restated, no text reused
- Wikipedia, 'Callan', Wikipedia (Wikimedia Foundation); facts restated, no text reused
Calen popularity since 1880
A few girls are given the name too: 226 since 1985.
| Year | Rank (boys) | Babies (boys) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #3,323 | 35 |
| 2020 | #2,767 | 44 |
| 2010 | #1,628 | 96 |
| 2000 | #1,800 | 60 |
| 1990 | #2,131 | 34 |
| 1980 | #3,445 | 12 |
| 1970 | — | — |
| 1960 | — | — |
| 1950 | — | — |
| 1940 | — | — |
| 1930 | — | — |
| 1920 | — | — |
| 1910 | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — |
How popular is Calen, counting every spelling?
Calen is a spelling of Callan, a name family that ranked #144 for boys in 2025 once every spelling is counted together, compared with #3,323 for Calen on its own. Together these spellings went to 2,653 boys in 2025.
| Spelling | Babies 2025 | Official rank | Babies 2021–2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Callan | 1,917 | #190 | 6,153 |
| Callen | 579 | #516 | 3,235 |
| Kallan | 82 | #1,912 | 313 |
| Calen | 35 | #3,323 | 228 |
| Calin | 14 | #6,190 | 110 |
| Kalin | 14 | #6,274 | 79 |
| Kallin | 7 | #10,185 | 30 |
| Callon | 5 | #12,352 | 28 |
Spellings count together when they sound the same in American English and are used for the same sex; nicknames and forms that sound different (such as Theo and Theodore) are kept apart. How we group spellings.
How many kids will share the name Calen?
35 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Calen (0.01 per 1,000 births). For a boy named Calen born in 2025, the chance that another child with the same name is in a class of 20 children the same age is under 1 in 50. If every grade liked the name as much as the 2025 babies do, only about one elementary school in 240 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Calen.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Calen?
About 2,400 people born in the US named Calen are alive today, with a median age of 20; half are between 12 and 31. That makes Calen mostly worn by children and young adults.
Babies given the name each year (SSA) times the share of that birth year still alive (SSA life tables). Counts people born in the US only. Method.
Calen by state
How common Calen was among boys born in each state in 2021–2025. In 46 states fewer than five boys a year got the name, too few for SSA to publish, so those states show as zero.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Calen: their share of US boys followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Calen, they share its era and feel.
Questions about the name Calen
What does Calen mean?
The origin of Callan is uncertain: several Gaelic surname sources; no gloss for Cathalán in our sources.
How popular is the name Calen?
Calen was the 3323rd most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 35 babies. Its best year was 1987, when it ranked 1177th; the most babies were born in 2011 (103). Over the last ten years it has moved down 1,109 places. More babies were named Calen in the 2000s than in any other decade.
Is Calen a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a boy’s name given the name Calen in the US.
Where is Calen most popular?
In 2021–2025, Calen was most common in Pennsylvania (0.02 per 1,000 boys), followed by Ohio and California.