Callum Name Meaning

The name Callum means ‘dove’ or ‘one who is peaceful’. This name is associated with someone who is gentle, kind, and nurturing. It is a name that is well-suited for someone who is soft-spoken, easy-going, and approachable.

Origins of the Name Callum

With a meaning like “dove,” it’s hard not to love Callum. This peaceful Scottish name comes with the cute yet rugged nickname of Cal and a boy-next-door appeal. We love how approachable he is, and while he’s rare, he’s not out of step with today’s trending boy names. We would love to meet more little Callums!

The name Callum is derived from the Scottish name ‘Calum’, which is derived from the Latin name ‘Columba’. The name ‘Columba’ means ‘dove’, which is a symbol of peace.

History of the Name Callum

The name Callum has a rich history in Scotland, where it has been used for centuries. In Scotland, the name was traditionally given to boys who were born on a Sunday. This was because Sunday was considered a holy day, and the name Callum was seen as a way of recognizing the sacredness of the day.

Popularity of the Name Callum

The popularity of the name Callum has increased significantly in recent years. In the United Kingdom, the name has been among the top 100 names for boys since the 1990s, and it has become a popular choice for parents who are looking for a unique, modern name.

In the United States, the name Callum has been gaining popularity in recent years. It is currently among the top 1,000 names for boys, and it is likely to continue to rise in popularity in the coming years.

Famous Callums

  • Callum Robinson: a professional footballer who currently plays for West Bromwich Albion.
  • Callum Keith Rennie: a Canadian actor best known for his roles in the TV series ‘Due South’ and ‘Californication’.
  • Callum Blue: a British actor best known for his roles in the TV series ‘Smallville’ and ‘Dead Like Me’.

Final Thoughts on the Name Callum

The name Callum is a strong and distinctive name that is suitable for any type of boy. Whether you are looking for a name for a future king or a regular kid, the name Callum is a great choice. With its gentle and peaceful meaning, this name is perfect for someone who is kind, gentle, and nurturing.

Infographic of Callum name meaning, which is A Scottish name, Callum means "dove."
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Callum Name Popularity

How popular is the name Callum? Here’s everything we know.

Year Rank # Births % Births
1910 — 0 0%
1911 — 0 0%
1912 — 0 0%
1913 — 0 0%
1914 — 0 0%
1915 — 0 0%
1916 — 0 0%
1917 — 0 0%
1918 — 0 0%
1919 — 0 0%
1920 — 0 0%
1921 — 0 0%
1922 — 0 0%
1923 — 0 0%
1924 — 0 0%
1925 — 0 0%
1926 — 0 0%
1927 — 0 0%
1928 — 0 0%
1929 — 0 0%
1930 — 0 0%
1931 — 0 0%
1932 — 0 0%
1933 — 0 0%
1934 — 0 0%
1935 — 0 0%
1936 — 0 0%
1937 — 0 0%
1938 — 0 0%
1939 — 0 0%
1940 — 0 0%
1941 — 0 0%
1942 — 0 0%
1943 — 0 0%
1944 — 0 0%
1945 — 0 0%
1946 — 0 0%
1947 — 0 0%
1948 — 0 0%
1949 — 0 0%
1950 — 0 0%
1951 — 0 0%
1952 — 0 0%
1953 — 0 0%
1954 — 0 0%
1955 — 0 0%
1956 — 0 0%
1957 — 0 0%
1958 — 0 0%
1959 — 0 0%
1960 — 0 0%
1961 — 0 0%
1962 — 0 0%
1963 — 0 0%
1964 — 0 0%
1965 — 0 0%
1966 — 0 0%
1967 — 0 0%
1968 — 0 0%
1969 — 0 0%
1970 — 0 0%
1971 — 0 0%
1972 — 0 0%
1973 — 0 0%
1974 — 0 0%
1975 — 0 0%
1976 — 0 0%
1977 — 0 0%
1978 — 0 0%
1979 — 0 0%
1980 — 0 0%
1981 — 0 0%
1982 — 0 0%
1983 — 0 0%
1984 — 0 0%
1985 — 0 0%
1986 — 0 0%
1987 — 0 0%
1988 — 0 0%
1989 — 0 0%
1990 — 0 0%
1991 — 0 0%
1992 — 0 0%
1993 — 0 0%
1994 2,198 8 0.0005%
1995 2,525 5 0.0003%
1996 1,574 23 0.0015%
1997 1,700 20 0.0014%
1998 1,552 28 0.0019%
1999 1,628 25 0.0017%
2000 1,689 24 0.0016%
2001 1,392 43 0.0029%
2002 1,550 33 0.0022%
2003 1,364 50 0.0033%
2004 1,412 48 0.0031%
2005 1,310 65 0.0043%
2006 1,121 100 0.0064%
2007 1,029 127 0.008%
2008 977 144 0.0093%
2009 895 176 0.0118%
2010 867 186 0.0129%
2011 822 206 0.0145%
2012 789 224 0.0157%
2013 772 230 0.0162%
2014 713 282 0.0194%
2015 677 320 0.022%
2016 691 300 0.0208%
2017 593 390 0.0279%
2018 545 460 0.0335%
2019 440 638 0.0471%
2020 340 895 0.0703%
2021 273 1,237 0.1012%
2022 249 1,390 0.1054%

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Maine (ME)

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Nevada (NV)

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Data via SSA.gov.

Names Like Callum

If you like Callum, you’ll love these other names like Callum.

What names sound like Callum?

If you like how Callum sounds, you might also like these names that sound like Callum.

Name Meaning Origin Popularity Other Gender
Callan

Battle; rock

Scottish

Callis

Chalice, goblet

Latin

Callumet

Straw, little reed

Latin

Callys

Chalice, goblet

Latin

Clem

Merciful

Latin

Colum

Scottish

Hallam

The valley

English

Hallem

The valley

English

What names are similar to Callum?

Find a name that’s like Callum, but just a little bit different.

Name Meaning Origin Popularity Other Gender
Bowie

Blond

Scottish

Clyde

“The keeper of the keys,” from the Greek Meidion, a key.

Scottish

Douglas

Black river

Scottish

Duncan

Dark warrior; brown fighter

Scottish

Ewan

Born of yew; youth; God is gracious; born of yew; youth

Welsh

Finley

Fair warrior

Scottish

Ian

God is gracious

Scottish

Lennox

With many elm trees

Scottish

Logan

Small hollow

Scottish

Malcolm

Devotee of Saint Columba

Scottish

Lists With Callum

Find inspiration in these baby boy name lists featuring the name Callum.

7 Comments

  1. Because it’s the first letter of my name Nd never heard a name like tht before..I love the name Nd it’s very sweet ?

    Reply

  2. We like to name our babies based off of the pregnancy! This pregnancy we felt such a peaceful and sweet presence in my womb and when we saw him, we knew this was the right name for him! Callum means dove which is an emblem of peace and tranquillity but also, it was my late grandmother’s nickname! So we loved that it honored her as well! And also, we love the representation of the dove as the Holy Spirit in the Bible!

    Reply

  3. We had a prayer shower for our family early in the pregnancy. Our pastor prophesied that our baby would be a bringer of peace. We found a list of names about peace, and selected the Gaelic word for dove. The only ancestry my husband and I hold in common is Scottish, and we wanted to honor that.

    Reply

  4. It was Scottish like my husband.

    Reply

  6. I had heard the name somewhere (an actor? an author?) and liked it. It turned out to be Scottish, and my father immigrated to the US from Scotland as a child with his family. It is common in the UK but not as common here, which we liked. We also thought it would be likely to be mispronounced, although a lot of people mispronounce it as Cay-lum we have discovered. It also means “Dove King,” and we liked that it had a peaceful meaning.

    Reply

    • My son is 10 now and we named him Calum, with only one L. That is the more typical Scottish spelling. I thought it would keep people from pronouncing it Call-um but instead they mis-pronounce it Cay-lum. It is frustrating, isn’t it? Oh well! What I do is tell people to think of the “a” in California and that usually helps them remember. ?

      Reply

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