Noah Boy
NOH-uh
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Callum
BoyScottish, Latin· “dove”
- Meaning
- dove
- Origin
- Scottish, Latin
- Pronunciation
- KA-luhm
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- #118
- US babies 2025
- 2,995
- Best rank
- #118 (2025)
- Peak year
- 2025
Meaning and origin of Callum
Callum is a Scottish and Latin name that means “dove”.
Callum is an anglicized form of the Scottish Gaelic Calum, which comes from the Latin columba, "dove". The name honors Saint Columba, the sixth-century Irish monk who founded the monastery on the island of Iona and helped bring Christianity to northern Britain. The same saint lies behind Malcolm, from the Gaelic Máel Coluim, "devotee of Columba". Callum has long been popular in Scotland and has spread across Britain, Ireland, Australia and North America. It sounds gentle and friendly, with a soft Celtic character. Cal is the natural nickname, and Calum is the traditional Gaelic spelling.
Famous parents who chose Callum: Jenna Dewan and Steve Kazee (2020). More celebrity baby names
Popularity over time
Callum first appears in US Social Security records in 1983. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 18 different years, starting in 2008. It is at its all-time high right now: 2025 brought both its best national rank, #118, and its highest count, 2,995 babies. Use has grown 712% in ten years.
Its national rank moved from #1,515 in 2000, #847 in 2010, and #118 in 2025. Of the 16,051 US boys named Callum since records began, 66% were born in the 2020s, its biggest decade. The 2010s come next, with 3,707 babies.
Other boys' names that peaked around the same time include Graham, Lorenzo, Stetson, Matteo, and Beckett.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Callum ranked highest in New Hampshire, Nebraska, and Rhode Island.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| New Hampshire | #38 | 30 |
| Nebraska | #50 | 40 |
| Rhode Island | #54 | 17 |
| Maine | #55 | 19 |
| Vermont | #57 | 8 |
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for boys.
Callum is usually pronounced KA-luhm, with two syllables. It has six letters, starts with C and ends in “-um”.
Middle names for Callum
A few middle names that flow with Callum: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Callum
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Lists that include Callum
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Callum mean?
Callum is a Scottish and Latin name that means “dove”.
What is the origin of the name Callum?
Callum has Scottish and Latin roots. Callum is an anglicized form of the Scottish Gaelic Calum, which comes from the Latin columba, "dove".
Is Callum a popular name?
Yes. Callum ranked #118 in the US in 2025, which makes it in the top 1,000.
Is Callum a boy or girl name?
Callum is mainly a boy's name. In the US it is used almost only for boys.
How do you pronounce Callum?
Callum is usually pronounced KA-luhm. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings