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Calum as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Calum

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The baby name Calum is a Male name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced KAL-um (IPA: /ˈkæləm/).

Calum is Scottish Gaelic in Origin.

Gender: Male
Syllables: 2.0
Origin: Scottish Gaelic
Pronunciation: KAL-um (IPA: /ˈkæləm/)

What is the meaning of the name Calum ?

The baby name Calum is a Male name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced KAL-um (IPA: /ˈkæləm/).

Calum is Scottish Gaelic in Origin.

Calum is the Scottish Gaelic form of Columba, derived from Latin columba, "dove," a symbol of peace and the Holy Spirit. In Gaelic it's pronounced KAL-um and corresponds to Old Irish Colum/Columb and modern Irish Colm. The name is closely tied to Saint Columba (521–597), the Irish missionary who founded the monastery on Iona and helped bring Christianity to Scotland, cementing the name's sacred and cultural resonance.

Used in Gaelic-speaking communities since the Middle Ages, Calum persisted through Scotland's Gaelic tradition and broadened in use during the 20th-century revival of Celtic names; it has ranked strongly in modern Scottish charts and is now familiar across the UK, Ireland, Canada, and Australia. Common variants and cognates include Callum (Anglicized), Colm (Irish), Columba (Latinate), and the short form Cal; related names include Malcolm (Mael Coluim, "devotee of Columba").

Calum has the following similar or variant Names

Celebrity babies named Calum

Name Last Name(s) Mother Mother famous for Fame Level Father Father famous for Fame Level
Calum Best Angie Best model George Best association footballer

Calum – Popularity by country

Based on birth registration data from national statistics agencies.

Country Gender Year Rank Born of
Ireland Boys 2025 #1 836
OM 0 #121 1 6,215
EE Boys 0 #125 1 2,087
CY Boys 0 #131 1 3,473
BN Boys 0 #139 1 6,332
AE 0 #187 1 10,220
LU Boys 0 #219 2 4,970
TW Boys 0 #256 1 7,111
MO Girls 0 #263 1 7,056
Canada Boys 2024 #278 29 2,588
SG 0 #281 2 11,010
KZ Boys 0 #295 2 6,578
JP Boys 0 #301 3 7,909
CZ Boys 0 #305 1 6,530
CN Boys 0 #331 1 9,639
DK Boys 0 #332 1 7,401
PL Boys 0 #340 1 6,459
HK 0 #357 1 8,483
France Boys 2021 #385 3 2,865
JO Boys 0 #389 1 7,057
UY Boys 0 #413 1 5,922
PH Girls 0 #429 1 13,098
ZA 0 #474 1 14,421
PA Boys 0 #505 1 9,305
HK Boys 0 #518 10 12,905
RU Girls 0 #522 2 11,913
CM Boys 0 #574 2 12,054
BH 0 #586 2 17,937
BO Boys 0 #622 1 9,244
United States Boys 2024 #639 257 7,044
CL Boys 0 #697 4 13,390
SG Boys 0 #734 6 17,960
QA Boys 0 #743 1 18,093
KW Boys 0 #804 3 18,755
TN 0 #864 2 13,765
OM Boys 0 #916 3 17,948
PE Boys 0 #926 1 14,506
CO Boys 0 #980 2 15,656
NG Boys 0 #999 3 16,906
MX Boys 0 #1,033 1 16,355
IN Boys 0 #1,039 1 16,750
AE Boys 0 #1,136 8 22,615
ZA Boys 0 #1,147 32 25,619
CO Girls 0 #1,152 1 16,140
MY Boys 0 #1,176 7 25,439
DZ 0 #1,229 6 20,130
TR 0 #1,254 1 19,440
SA Boys 0 #1,689 3 28,008

Calum is popular in 41 countries — most recent births per country:

Scotland, United Kingdom
Ireland
Canada
United States
France

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People also ask about Calum

Calum is predominantly a boy's name.
Calum is a 2 syllable name, pronounced KAL-um (IPA: /ˈkæləm/).
Common nicknames and spelling variations include Callum, Colum and Colm.
Across languages, Calum has these equivalents: Columba (Latin), Colm (Irish), Callum (Scots/English).
Yes, very popular — Calum ranked #1 in Ireland in 2025, and appears in official birth registries across 5 countries.
Calum ranks highest in Ireland (#1 in 2025).
Calum's popularity is holding steady. It moved from #1 in 2015 to #1 in 2025 in Ireland.
Yes — at least 1 celebrity couple has chosen Calum for their child, including Angie Best and George Best.