NameCensus.

UK boy's name

Calum

A Scottish masculine name derived from Gaelic meaning "dove".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Calum is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Calum popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #1675, with 15 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1996, with 614 births.

This profile covers 5,952 England and Wales registrations across 29 recorded years from 1996 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, NRS Scotland and NISRA Northern Ireland, 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 2% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 14,422 living people in the UK are called Calum. 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 2025 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Calum ranked #1675 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 15 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 1996, when 614 boys were registered as Calum.
  • Calum ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #176 in 2024.
  • About 14,422 living people in the UK are estimated to have Calum as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#1675

2024

Births in 2024

15

Latest year

Peak year

1996

614 births

Estimated living

14,422

2026

Meaning

What does Calum mean?

The name Calum originated from the Scottish Gaelic form of the Latin name Columba, meaning "dove." It is derived from the Gaelic word "colm," which means "dove" or "pigeon." The name first appeared in the 6th century AD and is associated with Saint Columba, an Irish missionary who played a significant role in the spread of Christianity in Scotland.

Calum is a popular name in Scotland, particularly in the Highlands and Islands regions. It has a long history in Scottish culture and has been used by several notable figures throughout the centuries. One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Calum is Calum Cille, the Gaelic name for Saint Columba, who lived from 521 to 597 AD.

In the 13th century, Calum Óg Mac an Bhaird was a prominent Scottish poet and member of the esteemed MacAn Bhaird family of bards. Calum Garbh Mac Ill'Anndrais, born around 1550, was a Scottish warrior and clan chief known for his bravery and leadership during the Scottish clan wars.

In the 18th century, Calum Bàn MacLeòid, born in 1738, was a renowned Scottish poet and songwriter from the Isle of Skye. His works played a significant role in preserving the Gaelic language and culture. Another notable figure from this time period was Calum Gilleathain, born in 1770, a Scottish soldier who fought in the Napoleonic Wars and later became a celebrated piper.

In more recent history, Calum Buchanan (1922-2004) was a Scottish author and journalist known for his works on Scottish history and culture. Calum MacLeod (1911-1988) was a prominent Scottish politician and member of the British Parliament, representing the Western Isles constituency.

These examples highlight the rich history and cultural significance of the name Calum in Scotland, spanning centuries and encompassing various fields, including religion, literature, warfare, and politics.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Calum over time

The chart below shows babies named Calum registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Calum, the clearest high point is 1996. The latest England and Wales figure is 15 births in 2024, compared with 614 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Calum
0154307461614199620102024

Decades

Calum by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Calum 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 #1706 73 5
2010s #631 714 10
2000s #157 3,105 10
1990s #102 2,060 4

Geography

Where Calum is most common

The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Calum. 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.

Calum ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #176 in 2024.

Scotland
25
Northern Ireland
4

Across the UK

Calum in Scotland and Northern Ireland

Scotland (NRS)

#176 in 2024

51 years of NRS records, 7,956 total registered

Northern Ireland (NISRA)

#339 in 2024

27 years of NISRA records, 698 total registered

Notable bearers

Famous people named Calum

  • Calum Scanlon

    association football player

    English association football player

    2005-

  • Calum Randle

    rugby union player

    French-English rugby league footballer

    2000-

  • Calum Macdonald

    association football player

    association football player (born 1997)

    1997-

  • Calum Turner

    rugby league player

    English professional rugby league footballer

    1997-

  • Calum Waters

    association football player

    Scottish association football player (born 1996)

    1996-

  • Calum McSwiggan

    entertainer; television producer

    British YouTuber

    1990-

  • Calum Mallace

    association football player

    Scottish Footballer

    1990-

  • Calum Scott

    singer-songwriter

    English singer

    1988-

Related

Names similar to Calum

FAQ

Calum: questions and answers

How popular is the name Calum in the UK right now?

In 2024, Calum was ranked #1675 for boys in England and Wales, with 15 births registered.

When was Calum most popular?

The peak year on record was 1996, with 614 babies registered as Calum in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Calum?

A Scottish masculine name derived from Gaelic meaning "dove".

How many people are called Calum in the UK?

A total of 5,952 babies have been registered as Calum across the 29 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 7,956 more in Scotland and 698 in Northern Ireland.

Where is Calum most common?

In the latest published local rankings, Calum ranks best in Scotland, where it placed #176 in 2024. 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.