Calum

Calum - A very unique male name

Calum appeared on the charts for the first time in 1994 on position #2854. In this article you'll learn the history of this name, statistics, see famous people named Calum and more.
Are you having a baby or looking to learn more about the name Calum? 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 Calum. The baby boy name Calum was given to 273 baby boys in 2025, ranking #789 on the national boy baby name top chart.


With that position 1 in 5,371 baby boys were given this name - making this a very unique male name according to our Popularity Score algorithm. Calum peaked in popularity 1 years ago in 2025 on position 789.

Famous with this name

How would you rate Calum, 1-5?

Calum is currently topping the charts in...

Did you know that popularity can vary a lot between states? Calum is currently topping the baby name charts in Idaho at position #336 - and is the least popular in Florida at position #1,272.

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 Calum is where you live.

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Calum origin and meaning

Scottish Gaelic, from Latin

Scottish form of Columba, from Latin columba, 'dove'

Calum is the Scottish Gaelic form of the name of St Columba, the Irish monk who brought Christianity to much of Scotland. In the US it has been a slow riser since 1994, reaching its peak in 2025 as a softer alternative to Callum and Caleb.

Attested etymology

Calum is a 5 letter name with 2 syllables.

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

Similar to Calum

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

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

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 Calum a common or unique name?

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

What is the number of syllables for the name Calum?

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 form of Columba

Spellings and nicknames

• Callum — The more common anglicised spelling, a separate established name
• Colm — The Irish form of the same name, a separate established name

Nicknames: Cal

Famous bearers

• Calum Scott — British singer known for his version of 'Dancing On My Own' (b. 1988) Contemporary
• Calum Hood — Australian bassist in the band 5 Seconds of Summer (b. 1996) Contemporary

Style

International

Why parents choose it

Parents choose Calum for a Celtic name with real history that still feels gentle and modern — and shorter than Callum by a letter.

Worth knowing

• Often misspelled Callum, and sometimes misread as Caleb