Calder
2 syllables
♂ Male ◎ Modern American ◈ 2 syllables
"Rocky water"

From Modern American

Calder means rough water or wild stream — from the Scottish Gaelic/Welsh. Alexander Calder IS the inventor of the mobile — he changed sculpture forever. Calder IS the most artistically revolutionary surname-name. Two syllables of the inventor-of-the-mobile, changed-sculpture-forever, and Scottish wild-stream.

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Calder at a glance
MeaningRocky water
OriginModern American
GenderMale
Syllables2
NumerologyLife Path 7
US Rank (today)#1734
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Why parents love Calder
  • Calder INVENTED the mobile — changed sculpture.
  • The most artistically revolutionary.
  • Two syllables with a strong, Scottish sound: KALL-der.
  • The meaning rough water IS dramatically natural.
  • The most creatively groundbreaking name.
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The vibe of Calder
rough waterwild streamScottishGaelicWelshAlexander Caldermobilesculpturerevolutionary
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Origin & history of Calder
Scottish Gaelic/Welsh (rough water) → Calder
1
Modern American roots
Calder means rough water. Alexander invented the mobile — changed sculpture forever.
2
First recorded
Earliest known use: Scottish; Alexander Calder (1898–1976).
3
Today
Calder remains a beloved choice, ranking #1734 in the US. 2,107 babies have been named Calder since 1980.
◈ Sources: Behind the Name, SSA data
◆
How popular is Calder?
2016 peak year
The name Calder reached its peak in 2016, with 120 registrations (ranked #1444). It first surfaced in U.S. records in 1980, roughly 36 years before its peak. Since the peak, the name has eased to well outside the top 1,000 (around #1734) today, averaging about 95 new babies per year. Calder's usage has held roughly steady recently. Across all years on record, approximately 2,107 American babies have carried this name.
Year-by-year registrations 1880–2024 · U.S. Social Security data
120 Babies named in peak year
(ranked #1,444)
95 Avg. per year
(last decade)
950 Total registrations
last 10 years
2,107 All-time total
(since 1880)
Popularity in the US today (rank #1,734) Moderate
→ Holding steady in recent years
📊 Check all names registered in the United States →
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Numerology of Calder
7
Life path number
The Seeker
Wisdom, introspection and spiritual depth.

Calder's Life Path 7 is the seeker's number — sculptural seeking. People named Calder tend to be strong, revolutionary, and gifted at inventing the mobile AND changing sculpture.

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Invented the mobile
✦
Changed-sculpture
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Rough-water
◎
Scottish-wild
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Artistically-revolutionary
C3
A1
L3
D4
E5
R9
Sum: 25 → Life path 7
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Personality of Calder
🔍
Curious & intellectual
Always questioning, always learning.
📚
Deep thinker
Surface answers don't satisfy them.
🌙
Reflective & wise
They think before they speak. Worth hearing.
🦋
Beautifully independent
Their solitude is purposeful, not lonely.
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Famous people named Calder

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Names that sound like Calder

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Names that combine with Calder

Sibling pairings that share the timeless, classic energy of Calder.

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Middle names for Calder

The right middle name turns Calder into a complete story. Explore options for first-and-middle pairings, then last-name flow.

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Numerology life path calculator

Enter any full name and date of birth to discover the life path number — a core numerological indicator of personality, purpose and destiny.

First name
Middle name (optional)
Last name
Date of birth
7
Life path number

How we calculated this
Calder is a beautiful choice.
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