Calen
Boy name · #3342 in 2025 · Uniqueness 83/100
In 2025, 35 baby boys were named Calen, placing it at #3342 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #2212, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 51,429 boys born in 2025 was named Calen.
The 48-year story
Calen first appears in the Social Security records in 1977, when 12 boys received the name. Its peak came in 2011, when 103 boys were named Calen — good for #1533 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Babies named Calen per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Calen against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Calen in class?
Calen scores 83 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "rare" band. A high score means genuine rarity — your Calen will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Calen is most common
State-level data for Calen is sparse in 2025 — the name's footprint is too small for most states to report (the SSA suppresses counts under 5 per state for privacy).
Names like Calen
Statistically, parents drawn to Calen tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Kaylen, Alen, Nolen, Halen, and Cullen.
KaylenAlenNolenHalenCullenKalenCavanToren
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Calen | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 35 | #3314 |
| 2024 | 47 | #2750 |
| 2023 | 51 | #2575 |
| 2022 | 52 | #2589 |
| 2021 | 43 | #2862 |
| 2020 | 44 | #2759 |
| 2019 | 50 | #2582 |
| 2018 | 58 | #2300 |
| 2017 | 42 | #2840 |
| 2016 | 66 | #2110 |
| 2015 | 61 | #2212 |
| 2014 | 69 | #2044 |
| 2013 | 79 | #1811 |
| 2012 | 92 | #1668 |
| 2011 | 103 | #1533 |
| 2010 | 96 | #1626 |
| 2009 | 68 | #2035 |
| 2008 | 74 | #1932 |
| 2007 | 90 | #1681 |
| 2006 | 77 | #1790 |
| 2005 | 57 | #2129 |
| 2004 | 58 | #2051 |
| 2003 | 48 | #2238 |
| 2002 | 58 | #1916 |
| 2001 | 60 | #1841 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Calen a popular boy name?
Calen ranked #3342 among boys in 2025 with 35 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #2212.
When was the name Calen most popular?
Calen peaked in 2011, when 103 American boys received the name (ranked #1533 that year). Since 2011 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Calen?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 51,429 newborn American boys was named Calen. It scores 83/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "rare".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.