Calum
Say it: KAL-um
BoyMeans dove5 letters2 syllables
#432
in Ireland (2025)
#418 with spellings combined
8
babies in 2025
#44
best rank (2006)
1,391
babies since 1992
Down 261
10-year rank change
Calum through the years
Compare with another name āShow the numbers
| Year | Babies (boys) | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 8 | #418 |
| 2024 | 6 | #501 |
| 2023 | 8 | #426 |
| 2022 | 18 | #252 |
| 2021 | 15 | #285 |
| 2020 | 9 | #391 |
| 2019 | 17 | #262 |
| 2018 | 29 | #195 |
| 2017 | 23 | #234 |
| 2016 | 25 | #218 |
| 2015 | 41 | #157 |
| 2014 | 31 | #190 |
| 2013 | 35 | #181 |
| 2012 | 59 | #122 |
| 2011 | 89 | #88 |
| 2010 | 78 | #94 |
| 2009 | 82 | #92 |
| 2008 | 128 | #69 |
| 2007 | 159 | #50 |
| 2006 | 179 | #44 |
| 2005 | 110 | #70 |
| 2004 | 48 | #113 |
| 2003 | 46 | #110 |
| 2002 | 34 | #129 |
| 2001 | 17 | #176 |
| 2000 | 19 | #168 |
| 1999 | 13 | #189 |
| 1998 | 13 | #179 |
| 1997 | 14 | #196 |
| 1996 | 14 | #192 |
| 1995 | 10 | #213 |
| 1994 | 5 | #263 |
| 1993 | 5 | #275 |
| 1992 | 4 | #298 |
Source: CSO, Irish Babies' Names (VSA50, VSA60), CC BY 4.0.
ā What does Calum mean?
Dove
Scottish Gaelic, from the Latin Columba (dove), the same root as the Irish Colm.
Say it right
KALum
The story of Calum
Calum is the Scottish Gaelic form of Columba, a Latin name meaning dove. It honours St Columba, the Irish monk known in Irish as Colm Cille, who founded the monastery on Iona and is one of the patron saints of Scotland. Irish Colm and Scottish Calum are the same name in two languages. Malcolm, from Maol Chaluim, once meant a follower of Columba.
Calum is the spelling closest to the Gaelic, while Callum, with two lās, is the form more often used in English. The CSO counts the two spellings separately, and in Ireland Callum has been the more common.
Calum first appears in the CSO records in 1992. It rose quickly, and its best year was 2006, with 179 boys, at number 44 in 2006. It was even more popular in Northern Ireland, where it reached number 21 in 2006. It is much rarer now, with 8 boys in 2025.
Say it differently where you're from, or spotted something wrong? Tell us.
Sources
- Wiktionary: Calum (English and Scottish Gaelic proper noun)
- Wikipedia: Calum
- CSO VSA50, Boys Names in Ireland with 3 or More Occurrences
- NISRA, First Forenames Given to Babies Registered in Northern Ireland
At a glance
Similar names
Sibling ideas
Nicknames
Cal
Spellings counted here
| Spelling | 2025 | All years |
|---|---|---|
| Calum | 8 | 1,391 |
In Northern Ireland
Not in the 2025 list. Best rank #21 (2006); 698 babies since 1997.
Source: NISRA, Open Government Licence.