Boy Old Testament Known
Caleb
a dog; a crow; a basket
כָּלֵב ka.lev
Caleb (Hebrew: כָּלֵב, ka.lev) means “a dog; a crow; a basket”, by traditional interpretation. Two men in scripture bear the name; the best attested belongs to the Exodus period. In 2025 it was given to 5,217 children in the United States, ranking 58. Use is falling away. Around 325,003 Americans have been given it since 1880. Appears with Abiah in 1 Chronicles 2.
Which Caleb?
Two men in scripture bear this name. Here is each of them.
-
Caleb
father of Achsah
-
Caleb
descendant of Judah; father of Hur; son of Hezron
Scripture against society
The two measures, side by side
At a glance
- Verses
- 39 across 6 books
- Bearers
- 2 distinct people in scripture
- Testament
- Old
- Era
- Exodus
The same name elsewhere
| Country | Form | Standing | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | Caleb | rank 58 · 5,217 in 2025 | Births in year |
| Brazil | CALEBE | 5,617 bearers · born 1950–2010 | Living residents |
| Spain | CALEB | 605 bearers · mean age 11.4 | Living residents |
| Portugal | Calebe | permitted | IRN approved list |
Two different questions are shown here. Rows marked births in year count children registered during a period; rows marked living residents count people of every age alive at a census. They answer different questions and are never added together.
Using it today
Based on 2025 births across the United States.
| Measure | Value | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| Given in 2025 | 5,217 | Falling |
| All-time total | 325,003 | Since records begin in 1880 |
| Peak | 11,684 in 2002 | Its highest year on record |
| Strongest state | CA | Highest share relative to births |
In scripture
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| First appears | Numbers 13:6 |
| Last appears | 1 Chronicles 6:56 |
| Cross-references | 552 linked passages |
Names connected to this one
- Jephunneh co-occurrence Appears with Jephunneh in Numbers 14.
- Kenaz co-occurrence Appears with Kenaz in Joshua 14.
- Achsah co-occurrence Appears with Achsah in Joshua 15.
- Othniel co-occurrence Appears with Othniel in Joshua 15.
- Azubah co-occurrence Appears with Azubah in 1 Chronicles 2.
- Nun co-occurrence Appears with Nun in Numbers 14.
- Anak co-occurrence Appears with Anak in Joshua 15.
- Ephrathah co-occurrence Appears with Ephrathah in 1 Chronicles 2.
Origin & meaning
A man of the tribe of Judah living at the time of Egypt and Wilderness, first mentioned at 1Ch.2.9;
son of: Hezron (H2696H);
brother of: Ram (H7410), Jerahmeel (H3396), Segub (H7687H) and Ashhur (H0806); married to Azubah (H5806H), Jerioth (H3408), Ephrathah (H0672), Ephah (H5891H) and Maacah (H4601L);
father of: Hur (H2354), Jesher (H3475), Shobab (H7727H), Ardon (H0715), Mareshah@1Ch.2.42 (H4337), Haran (H2771B), Moza (H4162), Gazez (H1495), Jahdai (H3056), Sheber (H7669), Tirhanah (H8647), Shaaph (H8174H), Sheva (H7724) and Achsah (H5915H); also called Carmi (NIV: Karmi) at 1Ch.4.1(?); Chelubai at 1Ch.2.9;
§ Caleb = "dog"
1) the godly son of Jephunneh and the faithful spy who reported the Promised Land favourably and urged its capture
2) son of Hezron and grandson of Pharez and great grandson of Judah and the father of Hur and grandfather of Caleb the spy
Caleb (Chelubai), the son of Hezron, was a descendant of Judah and the father of Hur.
The biblical story
Caleb, also known as Chelubai, is mentioned in the genealogies of Judah in 1 Chronicles 2 and 4:1. He was the son of Hezron and the father of Hur (1 Chr. 2:9, 18-19). Caleb's wives included Azubah and Ephrathah (1 Chr. 2:18-19). Through his son Hur, Caleb was the grandfather of Uri and the great-grandfather of Bezalel, the skilled craftsman who worked on the tabernacle (1 Chr. 2:20; Ex. 31:2). Caleb's descendants, known as the Calebites, settled in the region of Hebron and played a significant role in the tribe of Judah (1 Chr. 2:42-55). This Caleb is a different person from Caleb the son of Jephunneh, who was one of the twelve spies. The similar names and their connection to the tribe of Judah may have led to some confusion in the genealogical records.
Key verses
Caleb appears in 10 verses. Here are some of the most notable:
-
The sons also of Hezron, that were born unto him; Jerahmeel, and Ram, and Chelubai.
1 Chronicles 2:9 -
And Caleb the son of Hezron begat children of Azubah his wife, and of Jerioth: her sons are these; Jesher, and Shobab, and Ardon.
1 Chronicles 2:18 -
And when Azubah was dead, Caleb took unto him Ephrath, which bare him Hur.
1 Chronicles 2:19 -
And after that Hezron was dead in Caleb–ephratah, then Abiah Hezron’s wife bare him Ashur the father of Tekoa.
1 Chronicles 2:24 -
Now the sons of Caleb the brother of Jerahmeel were, Mesha his firstborn, which was the father of Ziph; and the sons of Mareshah the father of Hebron.
1 Chronicles 2:42
Show all 10 references
1 Chronicles (10)
- 1 Chronicles 2:9
- 1 Chronicles 2:18
- 1 Chronicles 2:19
- 1 Chronicles 2:24
- 1 Chronicles 2:42
- 1 Chronicles 2:46
- 1 Chronicles 2:48
- 1 Chronicles 2:49
- 1 Chronicles 2:50
- 1 Chronicles 4:1
Name variants & nicknames
- Cal — nickname
- Calebe — Portuguese
- Kalev — Hebrew form