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Of Hebrew origin, Caleb, pronounced KAY-leb, is often translated as "faithful" or "loyal," most likely because a dog displays these attributes towards its master. Several figures throughout the Old Testament also have names that correspond to an animal. The son of Jephunneh, Caleb is noted for his faith in God when the Hebrews refused to enter the promised land of Canaan. A companion of Moses and Joshua, he was known for his astute powers of observation and fearlessness in the face of overwhelming adversity. Moses sent him along with eleven other spies to Israel. Caleb and Joshua were the only ones who lived to see the Promised Land.

Popular among the Puritans in the 17th century and brought by them as a personal name to America, Caleb ranked 36th in popularity for males of all ages in a sample of 2000-2003 Social Security Administration statistics, 440th in popularity for males of all ages in a sample of the 1990 US Census and 48th in popularity for males of all ages in a sample of the 1994 US Census. Caleb has 6 variant forms: Cal, Cale, Cayleb, Kaleb, Kayleb and Kaylob.

Other Biblical figures with the name of Caleb
Caleb is the name of one of the three sons of Hezron of the Tribe of Judah. He is also called Chelubai (1 Chr. 2:9). His descendants are enumerated in that chapter (verses 18-20, 42-49).
Caleb is the "son of Hur, the firstborn of Ephratah" (1 Chr. 2:50).

Namesakes
Caleb Project is a place to help people with drugs or alcohol problem in Bradford.
Caleb University is in Lagos, Nigeria.
Caleb Temple is the main character appearing in the 1995 television series, American Gothic.
Caleb is a villain in the Buffy the Vampire Slayer television series.
Caleb Nichol is the father of Kirsten and eventually Julie Cooper's husband in The O.C. television series.
Caleb is the protagonist of the computer game Blood and its sequel, Blood II: the Chosen.
Caleb is the name of a genetically engineered breed of war dog in the Robert A. Heinlein novel, Starship Troopers.
Caleb is a character in the comic book and animated TV series W.I.T.C.H.
Caleb Followill is the lead singer of rock band, Kings of Leon.
Caleb the Ripper, a member of the adventuring group The Silver Horde, features in a number of Terry Pratchett's Discworld novels.
Caleb Bradley is a corporate swindler in Ayn Rand's novel The Fountainhead.
Caleb is the name of a song by Finnish metal band Sonata Arctica on their album Unia.
Caleb Bradham is the inventor of Pepsi-Cola.
Caleb Carr is an American Novelist and a military

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