UK boy's name
Kailum
A Scottish placename derived from Gaelic, potentially meaning "slender, narrow strait".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2021. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Kailum is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Kailum popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2021 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3990, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1997, with 17 births.
This profile covers 240 England and Wales registrations across 25 recorded years from 1996 to 2021. 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 24% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 238 living people in the UK are called Kailum. 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 2022 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Kailum ranked #3990 for boys in England and Wales in 2021, with 4 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 1997, when 17 boys were registered as Kailum.
- • About 238 living people in the UK are estimated to have Kailum as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#3990
2021
Births in 2021
4
Latest year
Peak year
1997
17 births
Estimated living
238
2026
Meaning
What does Kailum mean?
The name Kailum is a relatively modern name with no definitive origin or etymology. It appears to be a hybrid or invented name, possibly derived from combining elements of various names and cultures.
One potential source could be the Scottish Gaelic name Cailean, which means "bright-headed" or "young warrior." This name has been Anglicized as Colin or Calum. The "Kai" portion could come from Hawaiian or Maori names like Kaimana or Kairau.
Another possibility is that Kailum is a variation of the Arabic name Kalim, meaning "speaker" or "orator." This name has roots in the Arabic word "kalima," meaning "word" or "speech."
While the name Kailum does not have any significant historical references or appearances in ancient texts or scriptures, there are a few notable individuals who have borne this name throughout history.
One of the earliest recorded instances is Kailum Naidjim (1907-1990), an Australian Aboriginal artist and activist from the Stolen Generations. He is known for his vibrant paintings depicting traditional Indigenous life.
Another individual with this name is Kailum Ramlakan (born 1980), a South African cricketer who played for the Dolphins and KwaZulu-Natal teams in domestic cricket competitions.
In the realm of literature, Kailum Galland (born 1978) is a French author and screenwriter known for his fantasy novels and adaptations.
Kailum Bhakri (born 1992) is an Indian professional boxer who competed in the 2016 Rio Olympics, representing India in the lightweight division.
Lastly, Kailum Grevers (born 1985) is an American former competitive swimmer who won multiple Olympic gold medals as part of the U.S. relay teams in 2012 and 2016.
While the name Kailum does not have a long historical lineage, it has been adopted by individuals from various cultural backgrounds, contributing to its diversity and uniqueness in the modern era.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Kailum over time
The chart below shows babies named Kailum registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2021. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Kailum, the clearest high point is 1997. The latest England and Wales figure is 4 births in 2021, compared with 17 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Kailum by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Kailum 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 | #4299 | 7 | 2 |
| 2010s | #2779 | 69 | 9 |
| 2000s | #1495 | 119 | 10 |
| 1990s | #1368 | 45 | 4 |
Related
Names similar to Kailum
- Kieran 30,429
- Kyle 28,463
- Kai 24,432
- Kian 17,666
- Kayden 8,305
- Kevin 7,927
- Kane 7,149
- Kaiden 5,762
- Kieron 4,547
- Kacper 4,366
- Kye 4,012
- Kit 3,529
FAQ
Kailum: questions and answers
How popular is the name Kailum in the UK right now?
In 2021, Kailum was ranked #3990 for boys in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.
When was Kailum most popular?
The peak year on record was 1997, with 17 babies registered as Kailum in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Kailum?
A Scottish placename derived from Gaelic, potentially meaning "slender, narrow strait".
How many people are called Kailum in the UK?
A total of 240 babies have been registered as Kailum across the 25 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.