Meaning & origin
A reliable meaning for Kal isn’t established in our sources yet. Rather than guess, we show what is recorded: how the name is used, how often, and the names it’s connected to.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1947. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Kal through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 1,256
- 1,256 boys · 0 girls
- Most popular year
- 2021
- 72 babies
- 2025
- 60
- #2,320 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +15%
- Rising
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 60 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 2,320 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was 14.7% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. In 2025, California had the largest reported state-level birth count for boys with this name (7). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 1,401 as a first name in 2020; 183 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.
Kal’s family of names
In Greek usage, Kal as a surname is a transliteration of Καλ.
Inner ring: spellings · outer: across languages.
Spellings & scripts 1
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Across languages 3
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
People named Kal
- Kal PennAmerican actor, author, and former White House staff member in the Barack Obama administrationborn 1977
- Kal NaismithScottish association football player (born 1992)
- Kal Davidblues guitarist, singer and songwriter1943–2022
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Kal, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Kash
Kash is a masculine given name.
98% boys · 2% girls
Kane
“a warrior woman ready for battle” · “the little warrior”
>99% boys
Kade
“from the wetlands”
99% boys · 1% girls
Kashton
Kashton is a masculine given name.
99% boys · 1% girls
Colt
“a young horse; from the coal town”
>99% boys
Karson
“from the swamp” · “a free man”
95% boys · 5% girls
Khalil
“a beloved friend”
99% boys · 1% girls
Cash
“refers to a chest or box”
99% boys · 1% girls