Given name & surname
Kale
“the dark one; in Hinduism, a destructive force”·“one who provides comfort”·“a mighty warrior”
Kale is a variant of Kali. Interpretations include “the dark one; in Hinduism, a destructive force” (Hindi) and “one who provides comfort”. These may reflect different naming traditions. Kale is a variant of Kaelan. One interpretation is “a mighty warrior.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
Kale is a variant of Kali. Interpretations include “the dark one; in Hinduism, a destructive force” (Hindi) and “one who provides comfort”. These may reflect different naming traditions. Kale is a variant of Kaelan. One interpretation is “a mighty warrior.”
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
Kale is a variant of Kali. An origin associated with Kali is Hindi.
Explained through its name family
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1917. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Kale through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 7,605
- 7,379 boys · 226 girls
- Most popular year
- 2008
- 567 babies
- 2025
- 11
- #7,419 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −64%
- Cooling
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 11 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 7,419 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was 64.2% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for boys was 544 in 2008. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 7,379 as a first name in 2020; 3,778 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.
Kale’s family of names
In Hawaiian usage, Kale has a conventional equivalent in the English form Charles. In Hawaiian usage, Kale was borrowed from the English form Charles. In Hawaiian usage, Kale has a conventional equivalent in the Portuguese form Carlos.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Around the world
Kale has relatives in 3 languages.
3 related names in 3 languages. Point at a dot, or tab to the map and use the arrow keys.
Nicknames & forms 2
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 1
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Across languages 6
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
People named Kale
- Kale BrowneAmerican actorborn 1950
- Kaletapwa FarautaNigerian professor and politicianborn 1965
- Kale Kye-Taung NyoKing of Ava1385–1426
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Appears in
Similar names
If you love Kale, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Kaleb
“resembling an aggressive dog”
>99% boys
Case
“refers to a chest or box”
>99% boys
Kaden
“a beloved companion”
99% boys · 1% girls
Caiden
Caiden is a masculine given name.
99% boys · 1% girls
Caden
“a battlemaiden” · “spirt of battle •”
99% boys · 1% girls
Kamden
“from the winding valley”
96% boys · 4% girls
Cayden
Cayden is a masculine given name.
98% boys · 2% girls
Carmelo
“from the fruitful orchard”
>99% boys