Callum vs Samson

Callum and Samsoncompared 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.

Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2015, Callum was ranked #24 and Samson #342 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Callum was ranked #37 and Samson #785 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Callum was ranked #62 and Samson #619 among boys in Scotland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Callum was ranked #248 and Samson #651 among boys in England and Wales.

Callum and Samson over time

Callum and Samson appear together in 2 published lists, across 43 years of shared records. Callum held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Samson in 0.

In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.

Each reached its own highest recorded position first in 1 of the lists they share.

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.

List by list

England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Callum held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Samson in 0.
Highest recorded here: Callum #8 in 1998, Samson #452 in 2016.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Callum #248, Samson #651.
Republic of Ireland · Boys14 shared years, 1999–2024
Callum held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Samson in 0.
Highest recorded here: Callum #22 in 2006, Samson #347 in 2001.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Callum #37, Samson #785.

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
See the 2023 Northern Ireland ranking
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
See the 2024 Northern Ireland ranking
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 · 29 shared years, 1996–2024 · Peaked in the same years
See the 1998 England and Wales ranking
Michael vs Callum
In 1988, Michael moved ahead of Callum in New Zealand · Boys — #100 and #80 the year before became #2 and #80.
Michael · Callum · 22 shared years, 1988–2009 · One moved ahead of the other
See the 1988 New Zealand ranking

Side by side

Side-by-side comparison of Callum, Samson
Field	Callum	Samson
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	2
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, NO
Most recent popularity observation	Republic of Ireland · Boys #49 (2025)	Norway · Boys #439 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)	90/100	Not yet recorded
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)	88/100	88/100
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); Samson does not have one recorded yet.
Callum and Samson both have 2 syllables.
A meaning is recorded for Callum; Samson 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 recorded1996–2024
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

Samson

Popularity journey

First recorded1969
First recorded at #541 among boys in Norway in 1969 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #439 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys