Callum vs Kai
Callum and Kaicompared 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 Kai #34 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Callum was ranked #54 and Kai #69 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Callum was ranked #62 and Kai #56 among boys in Scotland.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2012, Callum was ranked #99 and Kai #59 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Callum was ranked #248 and Kai #72 among boys in England and Wales.
Callum and Kai over time
Callum and Kai appear together in 4 published lists, across 94 years of shared records. Callum held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Kai in 0.
The order between them changed and held in 3 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 4 of those lists, and Kai 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, Kai moved into the top 50 at #33 in 2022 as Callum fell out of it to #53, having been #39 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 2016, Kai moved ahead of Callum in England and Wales · Boys — #83 and #86 the year before became #110 and #87.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Callum and Kai changed places 5 times in New South Wales, Australia · Boys between 2002 and 2012, ending at #99 and #59.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 29 shared years in England and Wales · Boys, Callum and Kai averaged 58.8 places apart, ending at #248 and #72.
- Mirrored each other
Over 27 shared years in Northern Ireland · Boys, Kai rose about as far as Callum fell — from #28 and #272 in 1998 to #54 and #69 in 2024.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Callum held the stronger position in 18 of those years, Kai in 11.
Highest recorded here: Callum #8 in 1998, Kai #56 in 2003.
The order changed in 2016: Kai moved ahead. In 2015 they stood at #83 and #86; by 2016 that had become #110 and #87.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Callum #248, Kai #72.
Republic of Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2025
Callum held the stronger position in 24 of those years, Kai in 4.
Highest recorded here: Callum #22 in 2006, Kai #30 in 2024.
The order changed in 2022: Kai moved ahead. In 2021 they stood at #39 and #51; by 2022 that had become #53 and #33.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Callum #49, Kai #34.
Northern Ireland · Boys27 shared years, 1998–2024
Callum held the stronger position in 24 of those years, Kai in 3.
Highest recorded here: Callum #8 in 2006, Kai #52 in 2021.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Callum #54, Kai #69.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys10 shared years, 2002–2012
Callum held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Kai in 5.
Highest recorded here: Callum #55 in 2002, Kai #57 in 2009.
The order changed in 2012: Kai moved ahead. In 2011 they stood at #75 and #80; by 2012 that had become #99 and #59.
Most recent shared year, 2012: Callum #99, Kai #59.
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 | Kai |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Traditionally associated with 'dove', via its connection to Saint Columba. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Scottish Gaelic (Anglicised form of Calum), from Latin columba | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈkæləm/ | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 2 | 1 |
| 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 |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #49 (2025) | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #23 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Callum has a recorded origin (Scottish Gaelic (Anglicised form of Calum), from Latin columba); Kai does not have one recorded yet.
- Callum has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Kai.
- A meaning is recorded for Callum; Kai doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE.
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
Kai
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #76 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded2002–2025
Highest recorded position: #20 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2023 (recorded 2002–2025).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #23 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys