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Many parents today are choosing Caleb as a name for their sons, and sometimes daughters as well. A strong name filled with meaning, Caleb originates from the Hebrew name Kalev. In Hebrew, Kalev, or Caleb, refers to a dog, a basket, or a crow, and can be translated as "the devoted one" or "lion of God." This refers to the most famous Caleb; the Biblical Caleb discussed in the Book of Number in the Holy Bible. In Number, Caleb was one of the 12 spies sent by Moses to scout out the Promised Land for the Israelites, the land of Canaan. Of the spies, 10 returned to warn Israel of the giants and strong armies they had seen, and talked of the impossibility of winning the battles ahead. Only 2 spies returned saying that victory was possible with God's help, and one of those two faithful spies was Caleb. The other was Joshua, and both he and Caleb were the only spies that were rewarded with finally entering into the Promised Land. Those who lacked faith were doomed to wander and never reach Canaan. Once in the Promised Land, God appointed Caleb as one of the commissioners responsible for dividing up the land among the tribes of Israel.

Jewish meanings include also that Caleb is an ancestor of the Calebite clan.

There are several other Calebs, although none quite so famous. One Caleb, Caleb Bradham, lived from 1867-1934. He was a pharmacist from North Carolina, and invented a drink known as "Brad's drink" in 1893. It was later renamed Pepsi Cola. Caleb Followill is another Caleb that has some renown. He is the lead singer for the rock band Kings of Leon. Fictional Calebs include a villain in the television series "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," as well as a male character in the computer game "Blood" and its sequel "Blood II: The Chosen." Some celebrities, including Aileen Getty, Jack Nicholson, Jonathan Jackson, Julianne Moore, and Susan Anspach, have named their babies Caleb.

Variants of the name include Calob, Kaleb, Kaylab, and Kayleb. Cal and Cale are commonly accepted nicknames. The name Caleb has been associated with similar names Colby and Cabel.

Caleb has been a popular name in recent years in the United States. In 2006, Caleb ranked 34th, and it has continuously held in the 30's since 2000. It was somewhat less popular in the 1990's, and prior to that did not rank highly as a common baby name. It is more prevalent in other countries, including New Zealand, where it is widely used and ranks in the top 20. Australia and Canada also have their fair share of Calebs.

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