The name Cal is a boy's name meaning "dog; the whole of; dove; bald; war-strife; beautiful".

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Cal is a nickname style name that feels as friendly and calm as it does cool and breezy. While its longer forms have proved more popular over the years, Cal as a stand alone has dropped on and off of the US Top 1000 since the 1880s.
 
Traditionally, Cal derives from the Biblical Caleb, giving it the meaning "dog" or "the whole of". Alternatively, it comes from the English name Calvin, meaning bald. There are however a multitude of other origins, including Callum, Callahan, Callan, Pascal, Connally, Calix, and Macauley, which gives you the chance to pick whichever meaning you like best, some of which are listed above.
 
You could go for one of these long forms if your prefer something more formal or with a more solid meaning, but Cal as a standalone name has a long history of use. Since US records began, there has never been a year when it wasn't given to at least 5 babies, and. as of 2020, it is back in the US Top 1000 and on the rise.
 
Given to around 370 babies each year, Cal fits in with other nickname style names, like Leo, Jack, Finn, Ty, Drew, and Mack.

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The name Cal is a girl's name meaning "free man".

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If Caroline is too classic and Callie too cutesy, Cal might work as a cool alternative. Well established and currently in the Top 1000 for boys, it has potential as a gender neutral option too. 
 
Yet to rank in the US stats as a stand alone girl name, that could change in the future as it has a similar feel to Scout, Kit, Tru, or Liv. 
 
If you love Cal as a nickname but would prefer a longer form that Caroline, you could consider Callista, Callahan, Calliope, Pascale, Callaway or Carmel.

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