Caleb vs Joshua

Baby Name Comparison — 2026

Caleb

Boy #49 Most Popular 2 Syllables

Meaning

"From Hebrew 'Kalev'; possibly related to 'kelev' meaning dog, symbolizing faithfulness and loyalty; the biblical Caleb was one of the twelve spies sent to Canaan"

Origin: Biblical

Cultural Roots

English Jewish American

Quick Stats

Popularity Rank
#49
Total SSA Count
5,766
Syllables
2
Formality
Moderate
Nicknames
Cale, Cal

Playground Safety Score

✓ All Clear
Full profile for Caleb →

Joshua

Boy #57 Most Popular 3 Syllables

Meaning

"may God deliver"

Origin: Hebrew

Cultural Roots

Hebrew English Christian American

Quick Stats

Popularity Rank
#57
Total SSA Count
5,244
Syllables
3
Formality
Moderate
Nicknames
Josh, Jo

Playground Safety Score

✓ All Clear
Full profile for Joshua →

Popularity Comparison

Caleb Rank #49
Joshua Rank #57

Caleb is more popular, ranked #49 vs #57 for Joshua.

Popularity Over Time

Historical US popularity rank — lower number means more popular.

Middle Name Pairings

Caleb ___

  • Caleb James
  • Caleb Thomas
  • Caleb Alexander
  • Caleb William
  • Caleb Owen
  • Caleb Reid

Joshua ___

  • Joshua Alexander
  • Joshua James
  • Joshua Michael
  • Joshua Thomas
  • Joshua David
  • Joshua Ryan

Sibling Name Ideas

Names that pair well as siblings.

If you choose Caleb

Eli Noah Joshua Elijah Hannah

If you choose Joshua

Caleb Noah Hannah Abigail Elijah

Which Name Fits Your Family?

Answer 3 quick questions and we'll help you decide.

1. Which style feels more like your family?

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Caleb or Joshua more popular?

Caleb is more popular, ranked #49 compared to Joshua at #57 in the United States.

What do Caleb and Joshua mean?

Caleb means "From Hebrew 'Kalev'; possibly related to 'kelev' meaning dog, symbolizing faithfulness and loyalty; the biblical Caleb was one of the twelve spies sent to Canaan" (Biblical origin). Joshua means "may God deliver" (Hebrew origin).

Are Caleb and Joshua boy or girl names?

Caleb is primarily a boy name. Joshua is primarily a boy name.

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← Full profile: Caleb ← Full profile: Joshua Browse all baby names