Given name & surname
Calder
“of the rough waters or stream”
Calder is used as a given name and a surname. One Scottish interpretation is “of the rough waters or stream.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
One Scottish interpretation is “of the rough waters or stream.”
Where it comes from
An origin associated with this spelling is Scottish.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1980. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Calder through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 2,203
- 2,166 boys · 37 girls
- Most popular year
- 2016
- 120 babies
- 2025
- 94
- #1,731 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −10%
- Easing
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 94 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 1,731 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was 8.5% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for boys was 120 in 2016. In 2025, Texas had the largest reported state-level birth count for boys with this name (8). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 1,699 as a first name in 2020; 4,799 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Calder’s family of names
In English usage, Calder has a related form in Caldar. In English usage, Calder has a related form in Caldir. In English usage, Calder has a related form in Caldor.
The ring: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 7
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
People named Calder
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Calder, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
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