Cael is a boy name with a modern feel, drawn from real birth records. Below you'll find what Cael means and where it comes from, plus how many babies have been named Cael across the United States, UK, Ireland and New Zealand, how popular Cael has been over the decades, and the year it peaked.
Cael is a boy name of Irish (Gaelic) origin meaning “slender”. An Irish name from caol meaning slim; also linked to Cathal.
| Country | Births on record |
|---|---|
| United States since 1880 | 3,745 births |
| England & Wales since 1996 | 155 births |
| Scotland since 1974 | 26 births |
| Northern Ireland since 1997 | 17 births |
| Ireland since 1964 | 56 births |
Counts come from official national birth-registration statistics: U.S. Social Security Administration, England & Wales (Office for National Statistics), Scotland (National Records of Scotland), Northern Ireland (NISRA), Ireland (Central Statistics Office) and New Zealand (Dept. of Internal Affairs). Coverage spans differ, so totals aren't directly comparable across countries.
Babies named Cael per year, United States (1989 to 2025). United States peaked in 2011 (272/yr) · England & Wales peaked in 2007 (14/yr) · Ireland peaked in 2005 (6/yr) · Scotland peaked in 2014 (5/yr) · Northern Ireland peaked in 2011 (4/yr).
Cael is an uncommon baby name in the United States. It was most common in 2011, when it ranked #1,741 nationally (given to 291 babies that year).
Gail · Gael · Cleo · Callie · Cali · Caylee
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