Calum vs Markus
Calum and Markuscompared 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, Calum was ranked #176 and Markus #727 among boys in Scotland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2016, Calum was ranked #180 and Markus #358 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Calum was ranked #520 and Markus #655 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Calum was ranked #1675 and Markus #1162 among boys in England and Wales.
Calum and Markus over time
Calum and Markus appear together in 2 published lists, across 47 years of shared records. Calum held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Markus in 0.
The order between them changed and held in one of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Calum reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, and Markus 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.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Calum held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Markus in 5.
Highest recorded here: Calum #91 in 1996, Markus #711 in 2009.
The order changed in 2021: Markus moved ahead. In 2020 they stood at #1192 and #1230; by 2021 that had become #1984 and #1250.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Calum #1675, Markus #1162.
Republic of Ireland · Boys18 shared years, 2000–2024
Calum held the stronger position in 18 of those years, Markus in 0.
Highest recorded here: Calum #50 in 2007, Markus #354 in 2010.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Calum #520, Markus #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 | Calum | Markus |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Traditionally associated with the Roman god Mars, though both sources describe this connection as probable/traditional rather than certain, with no confirmed pre-Latin root established. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Latin, via the Roman praenomen Marcus; Markus is the German/Scandinavian form |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈmarː.kɵs/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #432 (2025) | Norway · Boys #68 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Markus has a recorded origin (Latin, via the Roman praenomen Marcus; Markus is the German/Scandinavian form); Calum does not have one recorded yet.
- Calum and Markus both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Markus; Calum doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE.
How each name got here
Calum
Popularity journey
First recorded1992
First recorded at #298 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: #21 among boys in Northern Ireland, in 2006 (recorded 1997–2024).
Northern Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #432 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Markus
Popularity journey
First recorded1956
First recorded at #406 among boys in Norway in 1956 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1956–2025
Highest recorded position: #13 among boys in Norway, in 1998 (recorded 1956–2025).
Norway · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #68 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys