Callum vs George
Callum and Georgecompared 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.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Callum was ranked #248 and George #6 among boys in England and Wales.
New Zealand · Boys
In 2009, Callum was ranked #78 and George #35 among boys in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Callum was ranked #54 and George #40 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Callum was ranked #62 and George #48 among boys in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Callum was ranked #49 and George #112 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2012, Callum was ranked #99 and George #63 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Callum and George over time
Callum and George appear together in 5 published lists, across 138 years of shared records. George held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Callum in 2.
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.
Callum reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 5 of those lists, and George in none. Each position is a place inside its own list, so this compares when they peaked and never how high.
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.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 2017, George moved ahead of Callum in Northern Ireland · Boys — #36 and #68 the year before became #75 and #58.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Callum and George changed places 4 times in England and Wales · Boys between 1996 and 2024, ending at #248 and #6.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 23 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Callum and George averaged 13.0 places apart, ending at #99 and #63.
- Mirrored each other
Over 28 shared years in Northern Ireland · Boys, George rose about as far as Callum fell — from #34 and #124 in 1997 to #54 and #40 in 2024.
- Longest-running competitions
Callum and George were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 36 years, from 1989 to 2025, ending at #49 and #112.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1996 they stood at #20 and #19 in England and Wales · Boys, 1 places apart; by 2024 they were #248 and #6.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys36 shared years, 1989–2025
Callum held the stronger position in 28 of those years, George in 8.
Highest recorded here: Callum #22 in 2006, George #65 in 2019.
The order changed in 1998: Callum moved ahead. In 1997 they stood at #137 and #128; by 1998 that had become #99 and #158.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Callum #49, George #112.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Callum held the stronger position in 7 of those years, George in 22.
Highest recorded here: Callum #8 in 1998, George #2 in 2018.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Callum #248, George #6.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Callum held the stronger position in 20 of those years, George in 8.
Highest recorded here: Callum #8 in 2006, George #25 in 2023.
The order changed in 2017: George moved ahead. In 2016 they stood at #36 and #68; by 2017 that had become #75 and #58.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Callum #54, George #40.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys23 shared years, 1990–2012
Callum held the stronger position in 11 of those years, George in 12.
Highest recorded here: Callum #51 in 1998, George #57 in 2011.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2012: Callum #99, George #63.
New Zealand · Boys22 shared years, 1988–2009
Callum held the stronger position in 7 of those years, George in 15.
Highest recorded here: Callum #27 in 2000, George #28 in 2005.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2009: Callum #78, George #35.
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 | Callum | George |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Traditionally associated with 'dove', via its connection to Saint Columba. | Farmer, earth-worker. |
| Origin | Scottish Gaelic (Anglicised form of Calum), from Latin columba | Greek |
| Pronunciation | /ˈkæləm/ | /ˈdʒɔːdʒ/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #49 (2025) | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #24 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Callum is recorded with a Scottish Gaelic (Anglicised form of Calum), from Latin columba origin, while George is recorded with a Greek origin.
- Callum and George both have 2 syllables.
- Callum's recorded meaning differs from George's — see the table above for each.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Callum
Popularity journey
First recorded1988
First recorded at #80 among boys in New Zealand in 1988 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New Zealand · Boys
Highest recorded1996–2024
Highest recorded position: #8 among boys in England and Wales, in 1998 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #49 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
George
Popularity journey
First recorded1946
First recorded at #345 among boys in Norway in 1946 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1996–2024
Highest recorded position: #2 among boys in England and Wales, in 2018 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #24 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys