Callum vs Levi
Callum and Levicompared 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 South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2012, Callum was ranked #99 and Levi #30 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 2009, Callum was ranked #78 and Levi #36 among boys in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Callum was ranked #49 and Levi #83 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Callum was ranked #54 and Levi #84 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Callum was ranked #62 and Levi #130 among boys in Scotland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Callum was ranked #248 and Levi #109 among boys in England and Wales.
Callum and Levi over time
Callum and Levi appear together in 5 published lists, across 110 years of shared records. Callum held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Levi in 1.
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 5 of those lists, and Levi 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 New Zealand · Boys, Levi moved into the top 50 at #35 in 2004 as Callum fell out of it to #63, having been #45 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 2019, Levi moved ahead of Callum in England and Wales · Boys — #135 and #154 the year before became #169 and #135.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 20 shared years in New Zealand · Boys, Callum and Levi averaged 27.2 places apart, ending at #78 and #36.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Callum held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Levi in 6.
Highest recorded here: Callum #8 in 1998, Levi #109 in 2024.
The order changed in 2019: Levi moved ahead. In 2018 they stood at #135 and #154; by 2019 that had become #169 and #135.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Callum #248, Levi #109.
Republic of Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1992–2025
Callum held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Levi in 0.
Highest recorded here: Callum #22 in 2006, Levi #83 in 2025.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Callum #49, Levi #83.
Northern Ireland · Boys25 shared years, 1999–2024
Callum held the stronger position in 24 of those years, Levi in 1.
Highest recorded here: Callum #8 in 2006, Levi #63 in 2023.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Callum #54, Levi #84.
New Zealand · Boys20 shared years, 1990–2009
Callum held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Levi in 6.
Highest recorded here: Callum #27 in 2000, Levi #35 in 2004.
The order changed in 2004: Levi moved ahead. In 2003 they stood at #45 and #57; by 2004 that had become #63 and #35.
Most recent shared year, 2009: Callum #78, Levi #36.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys8 shared years, 2004–2012
Callum held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Levi in 5.
Highest recorded here: Callum #60 in 2004, Levi #29 in 2011.
The order changed in 2008: Levi moved ahead. In 2007 they stood at #71 and #92; by 2008 that had become #75 and #66.
Most recent shared year, 2012: Callum #99, Levi #30.
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 | Levi |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Traditionally associated with 'dove', via its connection to Saint Columba. | Possibly means 'joined' or 'attached' in Hebrew, referencing Levi (third son of Jacob and Leah) as ancestor of the Levite priestly tribe. Behind the Name flags the etymology itself as uncertain. |
| Origin | Scottish Gaelic (Anglicised form of Calum), from Latin columba | Biblical Hebrew |
| Pronunciation | /ˈkæləm/ | /ˈliːvaɪ/ |
| 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 #8 (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 | medium |
What the data shows
- Callum is recorded with a Scottish Gaelic (Anglicised form of Calum), from Latin columba origin, while Levi is recorded with a Biblical Hebrew origin.
- Callum and Levi both have 2 syllables.
- Callum's recorded meaning differs from Levi'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
Levi
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #332 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded2004–2025
Highest recorded position: #8 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025 (recorded 2004–2025).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #8 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys