Callum vs Niall
Callum and Niallcompared 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 Niall #244 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Callum was ranked #54 and Niall #144 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Callum was ranked #62 and Niall #246 among boys in Scotland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2025, Callum was ranked #251 and Niall #745 among boys in England and Wales.
Callum and Niall over time
Callum and Niall appear together in 3 published lists, across 94 years of shared records. Callum held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Niall in 0.
The order between them changed and held in 2 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Niall reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 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 Niall fell out of it to #53, having been #50 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1999, Callum moved ahead of Niall in Northern Ireland · Boys — #28 and #26 the year before became #24 and #27.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 28 shared years in Northern Ireland · Boys, Callum and Niall averaged 38.3 places apart, ending at #54 and #144.
- Longest-running competitions
Callum and Niall were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #251 and #745.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Callum #8 in 1998, Niall #106 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys36 shared years, 1989–2025
Callum held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Niall in 14.
Highest recorded here: Callum #22 in 2006, Niall #16 in 1991.
The order changed in 2005: Callum moved ahead. In 2004 they stood at #61 and #50; by 2005 that had become #34 and #53.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Callum #49, Niall #244.
England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025
Callum held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Niall in 0.
Highest recorded here: Callum #8 in 1998, Niall #106 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Callum #251, Niall #745.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Callum held the stronger position in 26 of those years, Niall in 2.
Highest recorded here: Callum #8 in 2006, Niall #26 in 1998.
The order changed in 1999: Callum moved ahead. In 1998 they stood at #28 and #26; by 1999 that had become #24 and #27.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Callum #54, Niall #144.
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 | Niall |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #49 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #244 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| 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 has a recorded origin (Scottish Gaelic (Anglicised form of Calum), from Latin columba); Niall does not have one recorded yet.
- Callum has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Niall.
- A meaning is recorded for Callum; Niall doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in 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 recorded1996–2025
Highest recorded position: #8 among boys in England and Wales, in 1998 (recorded 1996–2025).
England and Wales · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #251 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys
Niall
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #47 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #16 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1991 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #745 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys