Callum vs Paul
Callum and Paulcompared 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 1998, Callum was ranked #30 and Paul #86 among boys in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Callum was ranked #49 and Paul #286 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1998, Callum was ranked #51 and Paul #86 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Callum was ranked #54 and Paul #278 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Callum was ranked #62 and Paul #290 among boys in Scotland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Callum was ranked #248 and Paul #586 among boys in England and Wales.
Callum and Paul over time
Callum and Paul appear together in 5 published lists, across 111 years of shared records. Callum held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Paul 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.
Paul 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 Paul fell out of it to #54, having been #43 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1993, Callum moved ahead of Paul in New Zealand · Boys — #59 and #53 the year before became #58 and #74.
- Longest-running competitions
Callum and Paul were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 36 years, from 1989 to 2025, ending at #49 and #286.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Callum #8 in 1998, Paul #72 in 1996.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1997 they stood at #34 and #27 in Northern Ireland · Boys, 7 places apart; by 2024 they were #54 and #278.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys36 shared years, 1989–2025
Callum held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Paul in 14.
Highest recorded here: Callum #22 in 2006, Paul #8 in 1989.
The order changed in 2005: Callum moved ahead. In 2004 they stood at #61 and #43; by 2005 that had become #34 and #54.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Callum #49, Paul #286.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Callum held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Paul in 0.
Highest recorded here: Callum #8 in 1998, Paul #72 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Callum #248, Paul #586.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Callum held the stronger position in 27 of those years, Paul in 1.
Highest recorded here: Callum #8 in 2006, Paul #27 in 1997.
The order changed in 1998: Callum moved ahead. In 1997 they stood at #34 and #27; by 1998 that had become #28 and #37.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Callum #54, Paul #278.
New Zealand · Boys10 shared years, 1988–1998
Callum held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Paul in 5.
Highest recorded here: Callum #30 in 1998, Paul #32 in 1988.
The order changed in 1993: Callum moved ahead. In 1992 they stood at #59 and #53; by 1993 that had become #58 and #74.
Most recent shared year, 1998: Callum #30, Paul #86.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys8 shared years, 1990–1998
Callum held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Paul in 5.
Highest recorded here: Callum #51 in 1998, Paul #46 in 1990.
The order changed in 1995: Callum moved ahead. In 1994 they stood at #85 and #73; by 1995 that had become #69 and #72.
Most recent shared year, 1998: Callum #51, Paul #86.
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 | Paul |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Traditionally associated with 'dove', via its connection to Saint Columba. | From the Roman name Paulus, meaning 'small' in Latin. Saint Paul, originally named Saul, converted to Christianity and became a key missionary figure, authoring several New Testament epistles. |
| Origin | Scottish Gaelic (Anglicised form of Calum), from Latin columba | Latin |
| Pronunciation | /ˈkæləm/ | /ˈpɔːl/ |
| 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, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #49 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #286 (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 Paul is recorded with a Latin origin.
- Callum has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Paul.
- Callum's recorded meaning differs from Paul'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
Paul
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #73 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1954–1998
Highest recorded position: #3 among boys in New Zealand, in 1965 (recorded 1954–1998).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #286 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys