UK boy's name
Calem
A Latin-derived masculine name meaning "messenger of peace".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2011. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Calem is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Calem popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2011 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3830, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1996, with 9 births.
This profile covers 51 England and Wales registrations across 11 recorded years from 1996 to 2011. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
The latest count is about 44% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 50 living people in the UK are called Calem. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2012 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Calem ranked #3830 for boys in England and Wales in 2011, with 4 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 1996, when 9 boys were registered as Calem.
- • About 50 living people in the UK are estimated to have Calem as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#3830
2011
Births in 2011
4
Latest year
Peak year
1996
9 births
Estimated living
50
2026
Meaning
What does Calem mean?
The name Calem is believed to have its origins in the Celtic languages of ancient Britain and Ireland. It is thought to be derived from the Proto-Celtic word "caletos," which means "hardy" or "strong." This would suggest that the name was initially associated with concepts of resilience and fortitude.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Calem dates back to the 6th century AD, where it appears in the Annals of Ulster, a chronicle of medieval Irish history. In this text, a Calem is mentioned as a nobleman in the kingdom of Dál Riata, which spanned parts of modern-day Scotland and Northern Ireland.
During the Middle Ages, the name Calem appears to have been popular among the Welsh and Cornish populations of Britain. Several historical figures bore this name, including Calem ap Rhodri (c. 1050-1090), a Welsh prince and ruler of the Kingdom of Gwynedd.
In the 12th century, a Benedictine monk named Calem of Durham (c. 1095-1165) gained recognition for his scholarly works on theology and philosophy. He is believed to have been of Norman-Welsh descent, reflecting the enduring popularity of the name across cultural boundaries.
Throughout the centuries, the name Calem has been associated with various individuals of note. One such figure was Calem MacDonald (1824-1892), a Scottish-born Canadian politician and businessman who played a significant role in the development of British Columbia.
Another notable bearer of the name was Calem Gillen (1874-1945), an Australian anthropologist and ethnologist who made significant contributions to the study of indigenous Australian cultures, particularly those of Central Australia.
In more recent times, Calem Hendry (born 1996) is a Scottish professional footballer who currently plays as a forward for the English club Sunderland A.F.C.
While the name Calem has deep historical roots and a rich cultural heritage, it remains relatively uncommon in modern times. Nevertheless, its enduring presence across different eras and regions serves as a testament to the timeless appeal of names rooted in ancient traditions.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Calem over time
The chart below shows babies named Calem registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2011. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Calem, the clearest high point is 1996. The latest England and Wales figure is 4 births in 2011, compared with 9 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Calem by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Calem was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | #3830 | 4 | 1 |
| 2000s | #3303 | 28 | 7 |
| 1990s | #1861 | 19 | 3 |
Related
Names similar to Calem
- Charlie 104,761
- Callum 65,796
- Connor 53,072
- Cameron 40,394
- Charles 33,091
- Christopher 26,849
- Caleb 15,553
- Corey 12,622
- Carter 11,505
- Cody 11,075
- Conor 10,298
- Christian 9,695
FAQ
Calem: questions and answers
How popular is the name Calem in the UK right now?
In 2011, Calem was ranked #3830 for boys in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.
When was Calem most popular?
The peak year on record was 1996, with 9 babies registered as Calem in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Calem?
A Latin-derived masculine name meaning "messenger of peace".
How many people are called Calem in the UK?
A total of 51 babies have been registered as Calem across the 11 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.