Alec vs Calum
Alec and Calumcompared on official birth-registration statistics and Namewise's recorded data. This page states what each name's record shows — it never picks a winner or scores one name against the other.
Head to head
Ranks are only compared within one published list and one year. Two ranks from different years, from a boys' and a girls' list, or from different registrars are not comparable, so they are not placed side by side.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Alec was ranked #535 and Calum #176 among boys in Scotland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2017, Alec was ranked #318 and Calum #202 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Alec was ranked #829 and Calum #432 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Alec was ranked #945 and Calum #1675 among boys in England and Wales.
Alec and Calum over time
Alec and Calum appear together in 3 published lists, across 65 years of shared records. Calum held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Alec in 0.
The order between them changed and held in 2 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Each reached its own highest recorded position first in 1 of the lists they share.
Counted list by list. Two names in the same published list are measured on the same scale in the same year, so those comparisons are real — but positions from different lists are not, so nothing here is combined into an overall standing.
How this pair is related
The relationship kinds these two qualify for, each under its own stated rule. Every one is drawn from a list they both appear in.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Alec #262 in 1997, Calum #91 in 1996.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Alec held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Calum in 19.
Highest recorded here: Alec #262 in 1997, Calum #91 in 1996.
The order changed in 2016: Alec moved ahead. In 2015 they stood at #702 and #438; by 2016 that had become #571 and #659.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alec #945, Calum #1675.
Republic of Ireland · Boys27 shared years, 1992–2025
Alec held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Calum in 25.
Highest recorded here: Alec #251 in 2001, Calum #44 in 2006.
The order changed in 2021: Calum moved ahead. In 2020 they stood at #342 and #402; by 2021 that had become #755 and #296.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alec #829, Calum #432.
Northern Ireland · Boys9 shared years, 2003–2017
Alec held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Calum in 9.
Highest recorded here: Alec #257 in 2006, Calum #21 in 2006.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2017: Alec #318, Calum #202.
Two names moving past each other in a ranking is a fact about the ranking. Namewise does not claim one name displaced the other, that families chose between them, or that either influenced the other — none of that is in this data.
Side by side
| Field | Alec | Calum |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #829 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #432 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Alec and Calum both have 2 syllables.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE.
How each name got here
Alec
Popularity journey
First recorded1971
First recorded at #257 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1971 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1971–2025
Highest recorded position: #249 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1987 (recorded 1971–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #829 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Calum
Popularity journey
First recorded1992
First recorded at #298 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1992 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1997–2024
Highest recorded position: #21 among boys in Northern Ireland, in 2006 (recorded 1997–2024).
Northern Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #432 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys