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At a Glance: Name: Callum – Meaning: dove (via the name Calum, ultimately Latin columba) – Origin: Scottish Gaelic – Gender: Boy – Pronunciation: KAL-um
Callum is a Scottish Gaelic name, pronounced KAL-um (IPA /ˈkæləm/), that traces back through Calum to the Latin columba — meaning 'dove.' You might come across a claim that it means 'brave warrior,' but that's not supported; the name's documented root is Calum/Columba. If a clear, sourced meaning and Scottish Gaelic origin matter to you, Callum checks both boxes.
Meaning & Origin of Callum
Meaning: Dove (via the name calum, ultimately latin columba).
Origin: Scottish Gaelic.
A common claim: Callum is sometimes said to mean 'brave warrior.' Actually: That's not supported and looks like a mix-up with a different name; Callum actually traces through Calum/Columba, meaning 'dove.'
Source: Wiktionary.
How to Pronounce Callum
Phonetic: KAL-um IPA: /ˈkæləm/
Popularity of Callum
Callum sat at #159 on the Social Security list in 2024, with 2,258 babies given the name that year — its highest rank in Social Security data spanning 1983 to 2024.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration birth-name data, 1983–2024.
Make Callum Name Art
Free printable nursery art for Callum, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.
Names With a Similar Story
Derived from shared style, era, and origin data (or, for names we have no style data for, a similar Social Security popularity trajectory) — not a hand-picked list.
FAQ
What does the name Callum mean?
Dove (via the name calum, ultimately latin columba). (Source: Wiktionary, https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Callum)
How do you pronounce Callum?
Callum is pronounced KAL-um (IPA: /ˈkæləm/).
Is Callum a popular name right now?
Callum is at its highest recorded popularity right now, ranked #159 in 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1983–2024.)
📊 How popular is Callum? See the full popularity history, trend data, and ranking since 1880 with our free Baby Name Popularity Checker.
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