The Baby Name Wizard

Reader Contributions

Contribute to, or edit, this collection of community wisdom on the name Callum!

Comments and insights on the name Callum: | Edit

The pronounciation of this name is up for opinion. I named my son Callum and we pronounce it Cay-lum. Majority of people I have encountered say it wrong, and almost no one has heard of it. It is a good name if you want something unusual but edgy!

Actually, you are pronouncing it wrong. If it were meant to be pronuounced Cay-lim, it should only have one 'L'. The two 'L's are what cause the 'A' to become a short vowel. No wonder you think everyone is pronouncing it wrong. If you spell something a normal way and insist it's pronounced like something else, you had that coming.

2. I haven't heard the Cay-lum variation, but I do love the Cal-lum pronunciation! Solid name that references Scottish roots.

I live in the UK where Callum is very popular and I have never heard any pronounciation apart from Cal-lum. Callums normally go by Cal.

If you want to pronounce this name as Cay-lum than why don't you spell It like this: Caylem

My son is Callum and it gets mispronounced as Cay-lum by Americans which gets on my nerves. It's phonetic! I think it's the aiden Caden effect. Anyway, we correct people but it is annoying that people can't read their own language. I'm English. Husband is American.

Personal experiences with the name Callum: | Edit

I am Scottish but live in Florida and have a little boy named callum. The ONLY pronunciation of this name is kal-um. This is the proper pronunciation and any other way is wrong. If you wanted to call your son a name that is pronounced cay-lum then why not name him Caylum? Like most Scottish names, the a is hard like in Aaron or Andrew. Not soft like in Caleb or cayman. I hope this sets the record straight - take it from a Scotsman, this is correct!!

Nicknames for Callum: | Edit

Cal, Cay Cay

Meanings and history of the name Callum: | Edit

Scottish form of Columba. Late Latin name meaning "dove".

Famous real-life people named Callum: | Edit

Callum Blue - Actor, Dead Like Me
Callum Keith Rennie

Callum in song, story & screen: | Edit

Share what you know!