The name Caleb is of Hebrew origin and means "devotion to God." The name is thought to either derive from either the Hebrew kelev, meaning “dog,” or from the Hebrew components kal and lev, which together mean “whole heart.”

What is the origin of Caleb?

The name is derived from two Hebrew words, “kal” and “lev,” which when put together means “wholehearted.” Even though it has Hebrew origins, Caleb became popular as an English name after the protestant reformation, a movement that aimed to reform the Catholic Church in the 16th century.

Is Caleb an Irish name?

Reduced and altered form of Scottish and Irish McKillip, a Gaelic patronymic from Philip. The form of the name, originally Killip, has been assimilated to that of the Biblical personal name Caleb.