Callum vs Jason
Callum and Jasoncompared 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 2025, Callum was ranked #49 and Jason #135 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Callum was ranked #54 and Jason #305 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Callum was ranked #62 and Jason #199 among boys in Scotland.
New Zealand · Boys
In 2004, Callum was ranked #63 and Jason #85 among boys in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2005, Callum was ranked #73 and Jason #91 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Callum was ranked #248 and Jason #197 among boys in England and Wales.
Callum and Jason over time
Callum and Jason appear together in 5 published lists, across 126 years of shared records. Callum held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Jason in 1.
The order between them changed and held in 4 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Jason reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 5 of those lists, and Callum 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 took the other's place near the top
In Republic of Ireland · Boys, Callum moved into the top 50 at #34 in 2005 as Jason fell out of it to #65, having been #49 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 2022, Jason moved ahead of Callum in England and Wales · Boys — #186 and #210 the year before became #229 and #200.
- Longest-running competitions
Callum and Jason were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 36 years, from 1989 to 2025, ending at #49 and #135.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Callum #8 in 1998, Jason #69 in 1996.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1997 they stood at #34 and #42 in Northern Ireland · Boys, 8 places apart; by 2024 they were #54 and #305.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys36 shared years, 1989–2025
Callum held the stronger position in 21 of those years, Jason in 15.
Highest recorded here: Callum #22 in 2006, Jason #19 in 1989.
The order changed in 2005: Callum moved ahead. In 2004 they stood at #61 and #49; by 2005 that had become #34 and #65.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Callum #49, Jason #135.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Callum held the stronger position in 26 of those years, Jason in 3.
Highest recorded here: Callum #8 in 1998, Jason #69 in 1996.
The order changed in 2022: Jason moved ahead. In 2021 they stood at #186 and #210; by 2022 that had become #229 and #200.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Callum #248, Jason #197.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Callum held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Jason in 0.
Highest recorded here: Callum #8 in 2006, Jason #36 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Callum #54, Jason #305.
New Zealand · Boys17 shared years, 1988–2004
Callum held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Jason in 6.
Highest recorded here: Callum #27 in 2000, Jason #13 in 1989.
The order changed in 1994: Callum moved ahead. In 1993 they stood at #58 and #34; by 1994 that had become #37 and #41.
Most recent shared year, 2004: Callum #63, Jason #85.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys16 shared years, 1990–2005
Callum held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Jason in 10.
Highest recorded here: Callum #51 in 1998, Jason #22 in 1991.
The order changed in 2001: Callum moved ahead. In 2000 they stood at #59 and #52; by 2001 that had become #52 and #65.
Most recent shared year, 2005: Callum #73, Jason #91.
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 | Jason |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Traditionally associated with 'dove', via its connection to Saint Columba. | From Ancient Greek Iason, meaning 'healer'. In Greek mythology, Jason led the Argonauts in the quest for the Golden Fleece; the name also appears in the New Testament as a Hellenized form possibly of a Hebrew name. |
| Origin | Scottish Gaelic (Anglicised form of Calum), from Latin columba | Greek |
| Pronunciation | /ˈkæləm/ | /ˈd͡ʒeɪ.sən/ |
| 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) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #135 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 94/100 |
| 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 Jason is recorded with a Greek origin.
- Callum and Jason both have 2 syllables.
- Callum's recorded meaning differs from Jason'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
Jason
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #100 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Highest recorded1964–2005
Highest recorded position: #1 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1971 (recorded 1964–2005).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #135 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys