Calum vs Rory
Calum and Rorycompared 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 Rory #3 among boys in Scotland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Calum was ranked #1675 and Rory #24 among boys in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Calum was ranked #339 and Rory #33 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Calum was ranked #432 and Rory #60 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Calum and Rory over time
Calum and Rory appear together in 3 published lists, across 90 years of shared records. Rory held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Calum 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 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 moved ahead of the other
In 2007, Rory moved ahead of Calum in England and Wales · Boys — #103 and #138 the year before became #145 and #124.
- Longest-running competitions
Calum and Rory were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 34 years, from 1992 to 2025, ending at #432 and #60.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1996 they stood at #91 and #93 in England and Wales · Boys, 2 places apart; by 2024 they were #1675 and #24.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys34 shared years, 1992–2025
Calum held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Rory in 33.
Highest recorded here: Calum #44 in 2006, Rory #42 in 2012.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Calum #432, Rory #60.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Calum held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Rory in 25.
Highest recorded here: Calum #91 in 1996, Rory #24 in 2024.
The order changed in 2007: Rory moved ahead. In 2006 they stood at #103 and #138; by 2007 that had become #145 and #124.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Calum #1675, Rory #24.
Northern Ireland · Boys27 shared years, 1997–2024
Calum held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Rory in 24.
Highest recorded here: Calum #21 in 2006, Rory #28 in 2022.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Calum #339, 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.
Side by side
| Field | Calum | Rory |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Red king. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Scottish and Irish Gaelic |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈɹɔɹi/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Ruairidh, Ruaidhrí, Rorie, Ruaidhrí |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #432 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #60 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | high |
What the data shows
- Rory has a recorded origin (Scottish and Irish Gaelic); Calum does not have one recorded yet.
- Calum and Rory both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Rory; Calum doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE.
- The available evidence gives Calum 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
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
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
Highest recorded2024–2024
Highest recorded position: #3 among boys in Scotland, in 2024 (recorded 2024–2024).
Scotland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #60 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys