Total births
2,494
Unisex name · since 1977
Calen
2,494 babies named Calen in U.S. Social Security records since 1977, with the highest year being 2011. Year-by-year trend, decade aggregates, and state-level rankings drawn from federal birth data.
- #2770
- among boys today
- 2,494
- born since 1977
- 2010s
- peak decade
- 81%
- more common than other boys
2,494 babies have been named Calen since 1977, making it today's #2770 unisex name.
Social Security Administration records show Calen recorded 2,494 times among boys since 1977, holding rank #2770 nationally today, ahead of 81% of boys, peaking in the 2010s. This profile derives year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1977 to 2025.
- #2770 among boys today
- 2,494 born since 1977
- 2010s peak decade
- 81% more common than other boys
Data updated Jun 2026
The verdict
Calen is currently the #2770 unisex name in America, more common than 81% of boys - 2,494 born since 1977, peaking in the 2010s.
- #2770
- among boys today
- 2,494
- born since 1977
- 2010s
- peak decade
- 81%
- more common than other boys
Calen vs. every other boys name in current SSA rankings
#2770
of 14,294 boys in use
More common than 81% of names given to boys today.
2010s
Peak decade
29% of everyone ever named Calen was born in this single decade.
2011
Single peak year
103 babies were named Calen in 2011 - its busiest year on record.
How Calen compares
2,494 Top 19% higher than 81% of 14,294 names currently given to boys
Based on all-time total births among currently-ranked boys names. Names with fewer occurrences are grouped into wider buckets on the right.
Source U.S. Social Security Administration, national baby name data
How the numbers stack up
Calen's all-time total is 7x the median boys name, and Liam still leads by a wide margin.
| Metric | Calen | Median boys name (Elchonon) | #1 boys name (Liam) |
|---|---|---|---|
| All-time total births | 2,494 | 367 | 358,536 |
| Peak-year births | 103 | 23 | 22,252 |
Calen's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Calen splits its recorded history at 2001: 63% of all births land in the more recent half, 37% in the earlier half, a lean toward present-day use rather than a passing spike. The single quietest year was 1978 (8 births) -- compare that against the 2011 peak of 103 for a sense of just how much the name's popularity has swung.
Calen at a glance
Outside the top 1,000Peak year
2011
Current rank
#2,770
Active since
1977
Calen popularity over time - boys
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1977–2025
- Peak year (2011)
- 103
- Annual births at peak, across 49 years of records
Calen popularity over time - girls
226 total births recorded since 1985 (Calen as girls' name)
Calen by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
2010s was Calen's strongest decade.
716 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 29% of all-time use.
Calen births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1970s 29
1970s
29 births
- 1980s
1980s
372 births
- 1990s
1990s
455 births
- 2000s
2000s
650 births
- 2010s
2010s
716 births
- 2020s 272
2020s
272 births
What this shows Peak: 2010s at 716 births (29% of all-time use).
How Calen compares to similarly-sized names
Years in SSA records vs. share of all-time use concentrated in the single peak year, among 15 boys names closest to Calen's total volume
Calen vs 15 similarly-sized boys names
Calen by state
Where Calen concentrates geographically, total births since 1977
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | California | | 161 | 6.5% |
| #2 | Texas | | 101 | 4.0% |
| #3 | Illinois | | 38 | 1.5% |
| #4 | Ohio | | 35 | 1.4% |
| #5 | Georgia | | 28 | 1.1% |
| #6 | Pennsylvania | | 22 | 0.9% |
| #7 | Florida | | 21 | 0.8% |
| #8 | Missouri | | 18 | 0.7% |
California share of Calen's total US births 6.5%
Even split
161 of 2,494 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 17 reporting states.
Calen appears in 17 states. Explore state details →
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Calen? ▼
2,494 babies have been named Calen since 1977. It currently ranks #2770 among boys. The peak year was 2011 with 103 births.
When was Calen most popular? ▼
Calen was most popular in the 2010s decade with 716 total births. The single peak year was 2011.
Where is Calen most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Calen are California (161 births), Texas (101 births), Illinois (38 births).
Is Calen a unisex name? ▼
Yes, Calen is used for both boys and girls. As a boy's name it has 2,494 births, and as a girl's name it has 226 births.
How long has the name Calen been used? ▼
The SSA has tracked Calen since 1977 -- 49 years through the most recent 2025 data.
What names are similar to Calen? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Caleb, Calvin, Callum, Callan, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for boys.
What to do with Calen's data
- Calen's usage has stayed within range of its 2010s decade-level peak (716 total births) through the 2020s (272) -- a comparatively stable name, not a fading trend.
- California records the most Calens (161 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. California names
- Weighing it against an alternative? Put two names side by side. Compare names
Figures reflect SSA-reported births only; see the methodology above for the privacy-suppression floor.
Keep exploring Calen
Nearby Names Like Calen
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Calen
Caleb Boy
#49 324,350 births
Calvin Boy
#140 221,064 births
Callum Boy
#158 16,051 births
Callan Boy
#242 11,164 births
Callen Boy
#481 9,501 births
Compare Calen side by side: Calen vs Caleb Calen vs Calvin Calen vs Callum
Related Names
Names with a similar popularity rank to Calen
Asante #2769
1,246 births · Peak 1997
Bentzion #2771
561 births · Peak 2024
Kamil #2768
2,092 births · Peak 2006
Javonte #2772
3,919 births · Peak 1992
Kylon #2767
1,432 births · Peak 2016
Jahlil #2773
2,468 births · Peak 2016
Faisal #2766
2,150 births · Peak 2014
Korben #2774
2,282 births · Peak 2013
Data Sources
Data as of June 2026. Source: U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA).
According to the Social Security Administration, this profile draws directly from the agency's public-use baby-name files (updated June 2026). See our methodology for the full extraction, aggregation, and privacy-suppression rules.
Primary: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names from Social Security Card Applications, National Data, 1977–2025 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Calen: #2770 Unisex Name - 2,494 Births, Peak 2011." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/calen. Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Name Almanac is rendered directly from the Social Security Administration's public baby-name files, no number is typed in by an editor. This profile for Calen draws directly on SSA national and state-level files, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.