Caleb
Name Origin & Meaning
Possibly from 'kol' (all) and 'lev' (heart) — 'all heart' or 'wholehearted' — or from a word for dog, in the sense of loyal faithfulness. Both meanings apply perfectly: Caleb is famous for following God 'wholeheartedly' while his ten fellow spies shrank back.
First Biblical Appearance
“And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it.”
Caleb's bold minority report against the fearful consensus of his fellow spies.
Biblical Significance
Caleb son of Jephunneh from Judah was one of twelve spies sent to scout Canaan. He and Joshua alone brought back a faithful report. For this, he received a specific personal inheritance in Canaan — the region of Hebron — and claimed it at age eighty-five: 'Give me this mountain.' His life is the supreme biblical portrait of wholehearted, lifelong faithfulness.
Notable Bearers
- Caleb son of Jephunneh
Personality & Character
Grace and divine freedom — the number of God's unmerited favour and transformative change
Spiritual symbolism drawn from Scripture and tradition
Modern Variants
A Blessing for This Name
May you follow God with a whole heart in the generation that follows halfway, and may you arrive at eighty-five still saying 'Give me this mountain.' May your inheritance be great because your loyalty was unwavering.