Callum vs Rory
Callum and Rory compared 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.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Callum was ranked #62 and Rory #3 among boys in Scotland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2025, Callum was ranked #251 and Rory #17 among boys in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Callum was ranked #54 and Rory #33 among boys in Northern Ireland.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1994, Callum was ranked #37 and Rory #99 among boys in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Callum was ranked #49 and Rory #60 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Callum and Rory over time
Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.
Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.
Callum and Rory over time
Callum and Rory appear together in 3 published lists, across 94 years of shared records. Callum held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Rory 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 3 of those lists, and Rory 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 Rory fell out of it to #68, having been #48 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 2015, Rory moved ahead of Callum in England and Wales · Boys — #82 and #87 the year before became #83 and #74.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 28 shared years in Northern Ireland · Boys, Callum and Rory averaged 31.8 places apart, ending at #54 and #33.
- Longest-running competitions
Callum and Rory were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #251 and #17.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys36 shared years, 1989–2025
Callum held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Rory in 14.
Highest recorded here: Callum #22 in 2006, Rory #42 in 2012.
The order changed in 2005: Callum moved ahead. In 2004 they stood at #61 and #48; by 2005 that had become #34 and #68.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Callum #49, Rory #60.
England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025
Callum held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Rory in 11.
Highest recorded here: Callum #8 in 1998, Rory #17 in 2025.
The order changed in 2015: Rory moved ahead. In 2014 they stood at #82 and #87; by 2015 that had become #83 and #74.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Callum #251, Rory #17.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Callum held the stronger position in 21 of those years, Rory in 7.
Highest recorded here: Callum #8 in 2006, Rory #28 in 2022.
The order changed in 2021: Rory moved ahead. In 2020 they stood at #59 and #65; by 2021 that had become #87 and #49.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Callum #54, Rory #33.
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.
Where to go next
Comparisons that share a name, a rule or a published list with this one. Each is an existing comparison page with its own evidence — nothing here says these pairs are alike.
Other comparisons involving Callum
Pairs where Callum shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Callum vs Ross
In 1997 they stood at #34 and #30 in Northern Ireland · Boys, 4 places apart; by 2023 they were #98 and #395.
Callum · Ross · 27 shared years, 1997–2023 · Started together, ended far apart
- Sean vs Callum
Sean and Callum changed places 12 times in Northern Ireland · Boys between 1997 and 2024, ending at #48 and #54.
Sean · Callum · 28 shared years, 1997–2024 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
- Jack vs Callum
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Jack #1 in 1996, Callum #8 in 1998.
Jack · Callum · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Peaked in the same years
- Callum vs Mitchell
Across 20 shared years in New Zealand · Boys, Callum and Mitchell averaged 10.5 places apart, ending at #78 and #85.
Callum · Mitchell · 20 shared years, 1988–2009 · Closest over the longest run
Other comparisons involving Rory
Pairs where Rory shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Rory vs Calum
In 1996 they stood at #93 and #91 in England and Wales · Boys, 2 places apart; by 2025 they were #17 and #3256.
Rory · Calum · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Rory vs Tom
In 1996 they stood at #93 and #102 in England and Wales · Boys, 9 places apart; by 2025 they were #17 and #976.
Rory · Tom · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Rory vs Gregory
In 1964 they stood at #73 and #78 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 5 places apart; by 2025 they were #60 and #829.
Rory · Gregory · 60 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Rory vs Simon
In 1996 they stood at #93 and #87 in England and Wales · Boys, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #17 and #606.
Rory · Simon · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Other pairs with the same kind of relationship
Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — one took the other's place near the top.
- Sean vs Adam
In Republic of Ireland · Boys, Adam moved into the top 50 at #9 in 2018 as Sean fell out of it to #74, having been #5 the year before.
Sean · Adam · 61 shared years, 1965–2025 · One took the other's place near the top
- Charlie vs Oisin
In Republic of Ireland · Boys, Charlie moved into the top 50 at #10 in 2018 as Oisin fell out of it to #247, having been #11 the year before.
Charlie · Oisin · 33 shared years, 1983–2025 · One took the other's place near the top
- Sean vs Charlie
In Republic of Ireland · Boys, Charlie moved into the top 50 at #10 in 2018 as Sean fell out of it to #74, having been #5 the year before.
Sean · Charlie · 33 shared years, 1983–2025 · One took the other's place near the top
- Sean vs Liam
In Republic of Ireland · Boys, Liam moved into the top 50 at #11 in 2018 as Sean fell out of it to #74, having been #5 the year before.
Sean · Liam · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · One took the other's place near the top
Other pairs from Republic of Ireland lists
Pairs measured inside Republic of Ireland's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.
- Grace vs Sinead
In 1964 they stood at #118 and #109 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2022 they were #2 and #905.
Grace · Sinead · 58 shared years, 1964–2022 · Started together, ended far apart
- Grace vs Therese
In 1964 they stood at #118 and #127 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2015 they were #8 and #896.
Grace · Therese · 51 shared years, 1964–2015 · Started together, ended far apart
- Sarah vs Lorraine
In 1964 they stood at #46 and #47 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 1 places apart; by 2018 they were #21 and #896.
Sarah · Lorraine · 50 shared years, 1964–2018 · Started together, ended far apart
- Grace vs Pamela
In 1964 they stood at #118 and #116 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 2 places apart; by 2017 they were #3 and #873.
Grace · Pamela · 46 shared years, 1964–2017 · Started together, ended far apart
Other pairs ranked together in the 2020s
Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2020 and 2029.
- Grace vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #41 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2025 they were #27 and #4867.
Grace · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Ella vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #56 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #46 and #4867.
Ella · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Jasmine vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #55 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2025 they were #102 and #4867.
Jasmine · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Anna vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #47 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2025 they were #142 and #4867.
Anna · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Callum | Rory |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Traditionally associated with 'dove', via its connection to Saint Columba. | Red king. |
| Origin | Scottish Gaelic (Anglicised form of Calum), from Latin columba | Scottish and Irish Gaelic |
| Pronunciation | /ˈkæləm/ | /ˈɹɔɹi/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Ruairidh, Ruaidhrí, Rorie, Ruaidhrí |
| Recorded regional usage | New South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, New Zealand | New South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, New Zealand |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #49 (2025) | England and Wales · Boys #17 (2025) |
| Data Confidence | medium | high |
What the data shows
- Callum is recorded with a Scottish Gaelic (Anglicised form of Calum), from Latin columba origin, while Rory is recorded with a Scottish and Irish Gaelic origin.
- Callum and Rory both have 2 syllables.
- Callum's recorded meaning differs from Rory's — see the table above for each.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Callum a "medium" Data Confidence level and Rory a "high" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
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
Rory
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #73 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
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #1271 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls