Callum

Callum - A unique male name

Callum appeared on the charts for the first time in 1994 on position #2540. In this article you'll learn the history of this name, statistics, see famous people named Callum and more.
Are you having a baby or looking to learn more about the name Callum? Our experts and editorial staff have gathered trends and insights for 30,000+ baby names over the last 100 years -- And on this page you will learn everything you ever wanted to know about the name Callum. The baby boy name Callum was given to 2,995 baby boys in 2025, ranking #118 on the national boy baby name top chart.


With that position 1 in 490 baby boys were given this name - making this a unique male name according to our Popularity Score algorithm. Callum peaked in popularity 1 years ago in 2025 on position 118.

Famous with this name

How would you rate Callum, 1-5?

Callum is currently topping the charts in...

Did you know that popularity can vary a lot between states? Callum is currently topping the baby name charts in New Hampshire at position #38 - and is the least popular in Mississippi at position #262.

Why care about state specific baby name charts? It could be that a name that is very popular on the national overall charts is less (or even more) popular where you live. So make sure you check out the state specific charts below and find out how popular or unique Callum is where you live.

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Callum origin and meaning

Scottish Gaelic, from Late Latin Columba

'Dove' — from Columba, the name of the 6th-century saint who brought Christianity to Scotland

Callum is the Scottish form of Calum, itself from Columba, Latin for 'dove.' St Columba of Iona made the name a Scottish staple for centuries before it travelled south and, much later, to America. It appears in US data only from 1994 and reached its highest use yet in 2025.

Attested etymology

Callum is a 6 letter name with 2 syllables.

To see famous people named Callum, pop culture references for the name Callum and nicknames & variations - visit Nameberry or Wikipedia.

Similar to Callum

We've found the following names that sound similar to Callum, sorted by popularity.

Colin / Collin / Cullen / Coleman / Callan / Callen / Callahan / Cillian / Calum / Clem /

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Name statistics

Most parents-to-be know if they want a popular or unique name, and with these charts and data tables you can easily get a better understanding of how popular or unique this name is.

With a quick glance you can easily tell if this name is increasing or declining in popularity - But note that its current popularity can actually differ a lot from state to state.

Chart position per year (visualized)

Chart position per state (visualized)

Chart position per year (table view)

Chart position per state (table view)

Even more about Callum

These are some of the common questions you may want to have answered to know if this is the perfect name for your baby.

Is Callum a common or unique name?

By analyzing the number of births and frequency of this name we've determined that it's currently a unique male name.

What is the number of syllables for the name Callum?

2 syllables. Why is this important? One of the things that makes a baby name sound good and have a nice rythm is the number of syllables - and especially the number of syllables along with the syllable count for your last name. A simple rule is to avoid having the same number of syllables in your first, middle and last name.

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Pronunciation

KAL-um · /ˈkæləm/

Around the world

• Calum (Scottish Gaelic) — The Gaelic spelling from which Callum developed

Spellings and nicknames

• Calum — The Scottish Gaelic spelling

Nicknames: Cal

Famous bearers

• Callum Turner — British actor, Fantastic Beasts and Masters of the Air (b. 1990) Contemporary
• Callum Wilson — England and Newcastle United footballer (b. 1992) Contemporary
• Callum McGregor — Celtic and Scotland footballer (b. 1993) Contemporary

Style

InternationalClassic

Why parents choose it

Parents choose Callum for its soft Scottish lilt and familiar-but-not-common feel in the US. It reads friendly and outdoorsy without needing a nickname.

Worth knowing

• Often misspelled Calum or Callam on first hearing
• Can be confused with Callan or Caleb in a busy classroom