כָּלֵב

Calev

boyHebrewJewish

Calev is a Jewish boy name of Hebrew origin, meaning “Whole-hearted; faithful”.

MeaningWhole-hearted; faithful
GenderBoy
OriginHebrew
Written asכָּלֵב
Pronunciationkah-LEV
TraditionJewish
Used inIsrael, United States

Meaning and origin of Calev

Calev is the modern Hebrew pronunciation of the biblical name usually written Caleb in English. Its meaning is debated: it resembles kelev, 'dog', suggesting loyalty, and is also read as kol lev, 'all heart'. Calev son of Jephunneh is one of the two spies, with Joshua, who trusted that Israel could enter Canaan. Families who want a more Hebrew-sounding form of Caleb often choose Calev.

Is Calev a Jewish name?

Calev is a biblical Hebrew name used by Jewish families, honouring the faithful spy of the Book of Numbers.

How popular is Calev?

Used in Israel and by Jewish families abroad; less common than Caleb overall.

Gifts with the name Calev

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Spellings and variants of Calev

Names similar to Calev

More Jewish boy names

Frequently asked questions

What does the name Calev mean?

Calev means 'Whole-hearted; faithful'. It is of Hebrew origin.

Is Calev a Jewish name?

Calev is a biblical Hebrew name used by Jewish families, honouring the faithful spy of the Book of Numbers.

How do you pronounce Calev?

Calev is pronounced kah-LEV.

Is Calev a boy or girl name?

Calev is usually a boy name.

Updated October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.