Callum vs Jack
Callum and Jackcompared 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.
New Zealand · Boys
In 2009, Callum was ranked #78 and Jack #1 among boys in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Callum was ranked #49 and Jack #2 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2012, Callum was ranked #99 and Jack #4 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Callum was ranked #54 and Jack #4 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Callum was ranked #62 and Jack #7 among boys in Scotland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Callum was ranked #248 and Jack #22 among boys in England and Wales.
Callum and Jack over time
Callum and Jack appear together in 5 published lists, across 138 years of shared records. Jack held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Callum in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Jack reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Callum in 2. 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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Callum and Jack changed places 4 times in New Zealand · Boys between 1988 and 2009, ending at #78 and #1.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 22 shared years in New Zealand · Boys, Callum and Jack averaged 34.5 places apart, ending at #78 and #1.
- Mirrored each other
Over 28 shared years in Northern Ireland · Boys, Jack rose about as far as Callum fell — from #34 and #8 in 1997 to #54 and #4 in 2024.
- Longest-running competitions
Callum and Jack were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 36 years, from 1989 to 2025, ending at #49 and #2.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Callum #8 in 1998, Jack #1 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys36 shared years, 1989–2025
Callum held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Jack in 36.
Highest recorded here: Callum #22 in 2006, Jack #1 in 2000.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Callum #49, Jack #2.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Callum held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Jack in 29.
Highest recorded here: Callum #8 in 1998, Jack #1 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Callum #248, Jack #22.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Callum held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Jack in 28.
Highest recorded here: Callum #8 in 2006, Jack #1 in 2001.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Callum #54, Jack #4.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys23 shared years, 1990–2012
Callum held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Jack in 23.
Highest recorded here: Callum #51 in 1998, Jack #1 in 2003.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2012: Callum #99, Jack #4.
New Zealand · Boys22 shared years, 1988–2009
Callum held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Jack in 20.
Highest recorded here: Callum #27 in 2000, Jack #1 in 2005.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2009: Callum #78, Jack #1.
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 | Jack |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Traditionally associated with 'dove', via its connection to Saint Columba. | God is gracious (via John), though now used as an independent name. |
| Origin | Scottish Gaelic (Anglicised form of Calum), from Latin columba | English, historically a diminutive of John |
| Pronunciation | /ˈkæləm/ | /ˈdʒæk/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 1 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Jankin |
| 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) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #2 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 95/100 |
| 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 Jack is recorded with a English, historically a diminutive of John origin.
- Callum has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Jack.
- Callum's recorded meaning differs from Jack'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 Jack 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
Jack
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #171 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1996–2024
Highest recorded position: #1 among boys in England and Wales, in 1996 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #10 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys