Kaleb

Kaleb is Caleb with a harder jawline. The K-spelling has risen alongside the C-variant of the biblical scout — the Hebrew Kalev, whose meaning is debated between "dog," read as loyal and faithful, and "whole heart" — one of only two Israelites permitted to enter the promised land for his faithfulness. Kaleb entered the US top 1000 in 1986, following the C-spelling revival, and now holds at 278, a steady alternative-spelling pick favored by families who prefer the visual snap. Two short syllables, crisp K, firm B close. Biblical without being solemn, contemporary without losing the story. A name with stamina.