Callum vs Saul
Callum and Saulcompared 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 2024, Callum was ranked #37 and Saul #655 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Callum was ranked #54 and Saul #278 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Callum was ranked #62 and Saul #352 among boys in Scotland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Callum was ranked #248 and Saul #1402 among boys in England and Wales.
Callum and Saul over time
Callum and Saul appear together in 3 published lists, across 80 years of shared records. Callum held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Saul in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Saul reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, Callum in 1. 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.
- Mirrored each other
Over 24 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Boys, Callum rose about as far as Saul fell — from #238 and #337 in 1992 to #37 and #655 in 2024.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Callum #8 in 1998, Saul #241 in 2000.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Callum held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Saul in 0.
Highest recorded here: Callum #8 in 1998, Saul #241 in 2000.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Callum #248, Saul #1402.
Northern Ireland · Boys27 shared years, 1997–2024
Callum held the stronger position in 27 of those years, Saul in 0.
Highest recorded here: Callum #8 in 2006, Saul #186 in 1999.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Callum #54, Saul #278.
Republic of Ireland · Boys24 shared years, 1992–2024
Callum held the stronger position in 24 of those years, Saul in 0.
Highest recorded here: Callum #22 in 2006, Saul #249 in 2002.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Callum #37, Saul #655.
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 | Saul |
|---|---|---|
| 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) | Northern Ireland · Boys #278 (2024) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| 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 has a recorded origin (Scottish Gaelic (Anglicised form of Calum), from Latin columba); Saul does not have one recorded yet.
- Callum has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Saul.
- A meaning is recorded for Callum; Saul 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
Saul
Popularity journey
First recorded1992
First recorded at #337 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1992 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1997–2024
Highest recorded position: #186 among boys in Northern Ireland, in 1999 (recorded 1997–2024).
Northern Ireland · Boys
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #1402 among boys in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Boys