UK boy's name
Calin
A masculine name of Romanian origin meaning "sweet, affectionate, tender".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2022. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Calin is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Calin popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2022 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4001, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2016, with 7 births.
This profile covers 71 England and Wales registrations across 15 recorded years from 2005 to 2022. The figures come from ONS England and Wales and NRS Scotland, 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 57% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 77 living people in the UK are called Calin. 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 2023 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Calin ranked #4001 for boys in England and Wales in 2022, with 4 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2016, when 7 boys were registered as Calin.
- • Calin ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #638 in 2008.
- • About 77 living people in the UK are estimated to have Calin as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4001
2022
Births in 2022
4
Latest year
Peak year
2016
7 births
Estimated living
77
2026
Meaning
What does Calin mean?
The name Calin has its origins in the Romanian language. It is a diminutive form of the name Calina, which is derived from the Greek word "kalos," meaning beautiful or handsome. The name was initially used in the regions of present-day Romania and Moldova, where the Romanian language has been spoken for centuries.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Calin can be found in a 16th-century document from the region of Wallachia, which was part of the Romanian principalities at the time. The document mentions a boyar (nobleman) named Calin, although specific details about his life and accomplishments are limited.
In the 17th century, the name gained popularity among the Romanian nobility and was associated with individuals of high social standing. One notable figure from this period was Calin Brancoveanu (1654-1714), a Prince of Wallachia who is remembered for his cultural and architectural contributions, including the construction of the Brancoveanu Palace in Bucharest.
As the name spread beyond the borders of Romania, it gained recognition in other parts of Europe and the world. In the 19th century, a French poet named Calin Lenoir (1803-1859) gained acclaim for his works, which celebrated the beauty of nature and the human spirit.
Another noteworthy individual was Calin Popescu-Tăriceanu (born 1952), a Romanian politician who served as Prime Minister of Romania from 2004 to 2008. His political career spanned several decades, and he played a significant role in Romania's transition to democracy after the fall of communism.
More recently, the name has been associated with artists and public figures, such as Calin Georgescu (born 1953), a Romanian-Canadian composer and conductor known for his contributions to contemporary classical music. Calin Petcu (born 1982) is a Romanian professional basketball player who has represented his country in international competitions.
While the name Calin has maintained its Romanian roots, it has also gained recognition in other countries and cultures, with variations in spelling and pronunciation. However, its connection to the concept of beauty and its historical ties to the Romanian culture and language remain an integral part of its meaning and significance.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Calin over time
The chart below shows babies named Calin registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2005 to 2022. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Calin, the clearest high point is 2016. The latest England and Wales figure is 4 births in 2022, compared with 7 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Calin by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Calin 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | #3824 | 14 | 3 |
| 2010s | #3754 | 43 | 9 |
| 2000s | #3223 | 14 | 3 |
Geography
Where Calin is most common
The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Calin. They are useful for spotting where the name is showing up in real numbers, while the rank beside each bar shows how strongly it performs inside that region.
Calin ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #638 in 2008.
Across the UK
Calin in Scotland and Northern Ireland
Scotland (NRS)
#638 in 2008
2 years of NRS records, 6 total registered
Related
Names similar to Calin
- 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
Calin: questions and answers
How popular is the name Calin in the UK right now?
In 2022, Calin was ranked #4001 for boys in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.
When was Calin most popular?
The peak year on record was 2016, with 7 babies registered as Calin in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Calin?
A masculine name of Romanian origin meaning "sweet, affectionate, tender".
How many people are called Calin in the UK?
A total of 71 babies have been registered as Calin across the 15 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 6 more in Scotland.
Where is Calin most common?
In the latest published local rankings, Calin ranks best in Scotland, where it placed #638 in 2008. The regional bars on this page use birth counts, so they also reflect the size of each region.
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.