Dog name guide

Calum

The meaning, background and naming story of Calum.

Letters
5
Starts with
C

Meaning and background

The story behind Calum

Calum is the Scottish Gaelic form of Columba, and Callum is listed as a related spelling variant. The single l is therefore an established form, not something that needs to be corrected automatically on a tag or registration. The reference gives a compact two-syllable reading, which can make Calum attractive if you want a full personal name that is already brief. Its documented Gaelic connection is a clearer basis for the profile than assigning a meaning from the letters themselves; a family's own reason for choosing it may be different again.

Origin
Scottish Gaelic form of Columba; Callum is a recorded variant. Source
Pronunciation
Reference reading /ˈkæl.əm/. Source

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About Calum

Recorded as a dog’s name

Calum appears in 3 dog licence records in the 2022 New York City dataset.

How to read this count

These records cover New York City and may count the same dog in more than one licence period. They are not a national popularity ranking.

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Sources and research notes (1)
  • New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene NYC Dog Licensing Dataset — all seven available extract years, retrieved 24 October 2026 — Recorded name spellings in NYC licence-period rows, extract years 2016–2018, 2022–2024 and 2026. Evidence selects one stated year per name. Annual snapshots overlap; never sum them as unique dogs. No national popularity, etymology or owner naming-intent claim.

References support the individual facts shown. A source link does not mean the entire profile has been verified.

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