Caulder is a unique and uncommon given name of Scottish origin. It is derived from the Scottish surname Cauldhame, which is believed to have been an habitational name from a place in East Lothian called Coldingham. The name Caulder is thought to mean "cold stream" or "cold valley," reflecting the geographical features of its place of origin.
The earliest record of the surname Cauldhame is found in 1296, when it was listed as one of the many names of those who had sworn fealty to King Edward I of England. Over time, the name has evolved and taken on various spellings, including Caulder, Calder, Caldie, and others.
While Caulder is not a particularly popular given name today, it has been used occasionally throughout history. In Scotland, there are records of people named Caulder as far back as the 17th century. However, it is not considered to be a traditional Scottish given name like many other names of Scottish origin.
One famous bearer of the Caulder surname was Sir Alexander Calder (1898-1976), a renowned American sculptor known for his innovative mobile sculptures. Although he did not use his full first name, Alexander Caulder, it is worth noting that he hailed from a family with Scottish ancestry.
In summary, Caulder is a rare and distinctive given name of Scottish origin that means "cold stream" or "cold valley." While its use as a given name has been limited throughout history, it remains an interesting and unique choice for parents looking for an uncommon name for their child.
Based on the provided statistics, the name Caulder has seen varying popularity over the years in the United States, with a total of 118 babies born with this name since 2005.
The year 2016 marked the highest point in Caulder's popularity, with 15 births recorded that year. This was followed by another peak in 2018, with 19 babies named Caulder. However, the popularity of the name has since fluctuated, with a significant drop to 5 births in 2022.
Despite these fluctuations, it is clear that the name Caulder has had some periods of notable popularity in recent years, particularly between 2016 and 2018. It will be interesting to see if this trend continues or if the name's popularity stabilizes in the coming years.