Cael
Boy name · 26 babies recorded · 1974–2025
Cael: 26 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to boys, peaking at 5 births in 2014.
Cael is a name with deep Celtic roots, most likely derived from the Irish "Cáel," meaning “slender” or “fair.” In early Irish mythology, Cáel was a warrior of the Fianna, famed for his love of the poetess Créide in a tragic tale from the Fenian Cycle. A more modern, notable bearer is the American actor and hip-hop artist Cael Sanderson, though he is more widely celebrated as an Olympic gold medalist in wrestling. Several places in Ireland, particularly County Waterford, share the root *caol* (meaning “narrow” or “slender”) in place names like An Caol, often anglicised as Keel. While the spelling Cael has grown in popularity across Scotland recently, it remains far less common than the related variant Cale or Kayle, giving it a fresh yet timeless feel.
Boy 7 of 52 years
- Peak year
- 20145 babies
- Latest (2015)
- #6863 babies
- Total births
- 26since 2001
- 5-year trend
- ▲ 33%vs prior 5y