Boy · #5,627 in 2026

Calem

Name: Popularity of the name Calem in U.S. births, 1880–2026
Creator: U.S. Social Security Administration
License: https://www.ssa.gov/foia/
Keywords: Calem, baby name, popularity, U.S., SSA, rankings

Current Rank

#5,627

Peak Rank

#4,582 (2009)

Total Babies

455

5-Yr Trend

+44%

1977

First Year

2026

Last Year

2009

Peak Year

#4582

Peak Rank

455

Total Count

Years Active

The Story of Calem

Calem first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby boy name in 1977, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2009, when 21 Calems were born — ranking #4,582 that year. As of 2026, Calem ranks #5,627 for baby boys with 16 births, rising sharply (+44% over the past five years). In total, more than 455 Calems have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1970s through the 2020s.

Popularity Over Time

Popularity by State

Top 10

11-50

51-100

101-500

500+

No data

Names that sound like Calem

Phonetically similar names — useful when Calem is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.

Column
Collum
Colum
Collumn
Colomb
Coulomb
Callum
Calum
Killam
Collen
Caelum
Cullum

Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.

Frequently Asked Questions about Calem

What does the name Calem mean?

Calem is a boy's name that has been used in U.S. records since 1977. Behind the Name doesn't list a specific etymology, but the name has remained in use across multiple decades.

How popular is Calem in 2026?

In 2026, Calem ranks #5,627 among boys' names in the U.S., with 16 babies given the name that year.

When was Calem most popular?

Calem reached its peak popularity in 2009, ranking #4,582 that year with 21 babies given the name.

Is Calem a unisex name?

In U.S. Social Security records, Calem is primarily a boy's name. We don't have meaningful data for it as a girl's name.

What names go well with Calem?

Names that share a similar style or popularity range with Calem include Jariah, Cobin, Darreon. These pairings are based on rank proximity and naming era in U.S. data.

About the name Calem

Calem is a boy baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1977 and has accumulated 455 births in the dataset. Calem's peak popularity came in 2009 when it ranked #4,582. Use the chart and map above to compare Calem's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.

Continue exploring

Data sources

Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .

Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.