Given name · also Late Latin
Calum
“dove”·“resembling a dove”
Calum is used as a given name. Interpretations include “dove” (Late Latin) and “resembling a dove”. These may reflect different naming traditions.
Meaning & origin
What it means
Interpretations include “dove” (Late Latin) and “resembling a dove”. These may reflect different naming traditions.
Where it comes from
An origin associated with this spelling is Late Latin.
How it developed
From Scottish Gaelic Calum, from Late Latin Columba (“dove”).
Adapted from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0)
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1978. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Calum through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 3,506
- 3,506 boys · 0 girls
- Most popular year
- 2025
- 313 babies
- 2025
- 313
- #799 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +56%
- Rising fast
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 313 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 799 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was 55.8% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. In 2025, Texas had the largest reported state-level birth count for boys with this name (24). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 1,932 as a first name in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Calum’s family of names
In English usage, Calum has a short form in Cal. In Scottish Gaelic usage, Calum shares a linguistic root with the Irish form Colm. In English usage, Calum has a related form in Malcolm.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Nicknames & forms 8
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 1
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Across languages 4
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
See also 4
Names our sources mention alongside this one. They are related in story or meaning, not forms of this name.
People named Calum
- Calum ChambersEnglish association football playerborn 1995
- Calum ScottEnglish singerborn 1988
- Calum WorthyCanadian actorborn 1991
- Calum DavenportBritish footballer (born 1983)
- Calum JarvisBritish swimmerborn 1992
- Calum HoodAustralian bassistborn 1996
- Calum MacLeodScottish cricketerborn 1988
- Calum AngusEnglish footballer (born 1986)
- Calum ElliotScottish footballer (born 1987)
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Calum, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Euan
“the little swift one”
>99% boys
Kallan
“of the flowing water” · “powerful in battle”
83% boys · 17% girls
Kade
“from the wetlands”
99% boys · 1% girls
Callahan
Callahan is a masculine given name from Irish.
90% boys · 10% girls
Kian
“from an ancient family”
>99% boys
Kieran
“having dark features; the little dark one”
97% boys · 3% girls
Lochlan
“from the land of the lochs” · “from the land of lakes”
97% boys · 3% girls
Alastor
“helper and defender of mankind”
>99% boys