Calum vs Richard
Calum and Richardcompared 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 Richard #619 among boys in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Calum was ranked #432 and Richard #232 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2022, Calum was ranked #352 and Richard #311 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2025, Calum was ranked #3256 and Richard #431 among boys in England and Wales.
Calum and Richard over time
Calum and Richard appear together in 3 published lists, across 88 years of shared records. Richard held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Calum in 1.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Richard reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, and Calum 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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Calum and Richard changed places 4 times in Northern Ireland · Boys between 1997 and 2022, ending at #352 and #311.
- Longest-running competitions
Calum and Richard were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #3256 and #431.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Calum #91 in 1996, Richard #62 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys34 shared years, 1992–2025
Calum held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Richard in 24.
Highest recorded here: Calum #44 in 2006, Richard #43 in 1992.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Calum #432, Richard #232.
England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025
Calum held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Richard in 26.
Highest recorded here: Calum #91 in 1996, Richard #62 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Calum #3256, Richard #431.
Northern Ireland · Boys24 shared years, 1997–2022
Calum held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Richard in 6.
Highest recorded here: Calum #21 in 2006, Richard #77 in 1999.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Calum #352, Richard #311.
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 | Richard |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | From Old German elements 'rih' (ruler, king) and 'hart' (hard, firm, brave, hardy) — 'brave ruler'. Introduced to England by the Normans in the 11th century. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Germanic |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈɹɪt͡ʃ.əɹd/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #432 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #232 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Richard has a recorded origin (Germanic); Calum does not have one recorded yet.
- Calum and Richard both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Richard; 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 #3256 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys
Richard
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #219 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1954–1999
Highest recorded position: #9 among boys in New Zealand, in 1965 (recorded 1954–1999).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #431 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys