Callum vs Hamish
Callum and Hamishcompared 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.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2019, Callum was ranked #45 and Hamish #402 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Callum was ranked #62 and Hamish #70 among boys in Scotland.
New Zealand · Boys
In 2009, Callum was ranked #78 and Hamish #72 among boys in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2012, Callum was ranked #99 and Hamish #86 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2023, Callum was ranked #98 and Hamish #395 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Callum was ranked #248 and Hamish #422 among boys in England and Wales.
Callum and Hamish over time
Callum and Hamish appear together in 3 published lists, across 66 years of shared records. Callum held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Hamish in 1.
The order between them changed and held in one 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.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 2010, Hamish moved ahead of Callum in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #61 and #70 the year before became #75 and #60.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Callum and Hamish changed places 8 times in New Zealand · Boys between 1988 and 2009, ending at #78 and #72.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 22 shared years in New Zealand · Boys, Callum and Hamish averaged 13.3 places apart, ending at #78 and #72.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Callum #8 in 1998, Hamish #222 in 1998.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Callum held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Hamish in 0.
Highest recorded here: Callum #8 in 1998, Hamish #222 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Callum #248, Hamish #422.
New Zealand · Boys22 shared years, 1988–2009
Callum held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Hamish in 15.
Highest recorded here: Callum #27 in 2000, Hamish #27 in 1999.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2009: Callum #78, Hamish #72.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys15 shared years, 1997–2012
Callum held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Hamish in 4.
Highest recorded here: Callum #51 in 1998, Hamish #60 in 2010.
The order changed in 2010: Hamish moved ahead. In 2009 they stood at #61 and #70; by 2010 that had become #75 and #60.
Most recent shared year, 2012: Callum #99, Hamish #86.
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 | Hamish |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Traditionally associated with 'dove', via its connection to Saint Columba. | Shares the meaning of James: commonly interpreted as 'supplanter' (Hebrew, via James/Jacob). |
| Origin | Scottish Gaelic (Anglicised form of Calum), from Latin columba | Scottish Gaelic |
| Pronunciation | /ˈkæləm/ | /ˈheɪmɪʃ/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Seumas, James |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #49 (2025) | Scotland #25 (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 | high |
What the data shows
- Callum is recorded with a Scottish Gaelic (Anglicised form of Calum), from Latin columba origin, while Hamish is recorded with a Scottish Gaelic origin.
- Callum and Hamish both have 2 syllables.
- Callum's recorded meaning differs from Hamish's — see the table above for each.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Callum a "medium" Data Confidence level and Hamish a "high" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
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
Hamish
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #95 among boys in New Zealand in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New Zealand · Boys
Highest recorded2014–2025
Highest recorded position: #25 in Scotland, in 2025 (recorded 2014–2025).
Scotland
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #25 in Scotland, in 2025.
Scotland