Active discussions

Help protect children from gaming harms.

Take our survey

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

Callum

63 replies

Paperstraw · 04/06/2020 14:21

DH and I are considering this name, however we are certainly unaware of how popular or unpopular it is at the moment. We don't really know a lot of babies or kids as we just moved to a different city a few months ago so haven't exactly made a lot of friends with kids.

Have you recently met any babies/kids named Callum? How popular is it now?

Other names we like:

Fraser
Clive
Rogan
Gareth
Brogan
Boyd

And a few others...

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
BlueGreenYellowRed · 05/06/2020 18:23

There'd be "spelling situations" with Fraser too. It's not a common name in the UK and more people may be familiar with the tv show Frasier.

Original poster
Paperstraw · 05/06/2020 17:31

So I think we are leaning way more to Fraser now. We're suddenly getting mixed feelings about the name Callum and apparently there could be a bit of a spelling situation every once in a while.

We do love Fraser but are wondering if there are any nn or can it really just stay as Fraser forever?

Could it match the girls names that we like?

Sophia
Sloane
Alexandra
India
Ocean

(It's a weird mix)

OP posts:
SporadicNamechange · 05/06/2020 10:05

I know several lovely Calum/Callums (of various ages). It’s a totally standard Scottish name.

All this MN nonsense about ‘chavvy’ names or ‘naughty boy names’ is just rubbish. And it’s usually rooted in the standard anti-anything-that-doesn’t-sound-either-traditionally-English-or-otherwise-a-bit-posh attitude that’s so prevalent on MN.

All the children I know called Noah are badly behaved and permissively parented pains in the arse. I don’t think it’s anything to do with the name Noah; it’s the specific families I know. And they are exactly the kind of people who’d look down on ‘chavvy’ names.

OTOH, the only Kayden (which must be up there near the top of the MN ‘eurgh, it’s chavvy’ list) is a lovely boy who works hard and tries his best. Same with the only Jayden I know.

Aclh13 · 05/06/2020 02:42

I know about 10 callums nearly all of them are horrible as well, it must be one of those names 😂, I like
Fraser ✔️
Clive
Rogan
Gareth✔️
Brogan
Boyd

123Dancewithme · 05/06/2020 00:15

It’s nice but I prefer the Calum spelling.

Susanna85 · 04/06/2020 18:33

Certainly the nicest of the ones OP is considering.

Some slightly odd choices on the list. Callum is a nice name, not chavy or outdated.

DramaAlpaca · 04/06/2020 18:26

Callum isn't in the least bit 'chavvy', OP, so don't worry about that.

I really wish MN would delete posts that use that word, it's just plain nasty. As is the 'naughty boy name' comment, which is meaningless but equally unpleasant as it seems to be just another way of saying 'chavvy' Angry

Anyway, Callum is great, it's around here in Ireland but you don't meet many. I prefer the Callum spelling to Calum.

As for the rest of the list, Fraser and Gareth are very nice. Clive is too dated, Brogan seems in recent years to have become a girls' name, unfortunately, and I don't like Boyd at all.

ElectricTonight · 04/06/2020 18:24

I don't know any Callum's I'm in SE London. I like the name!

BilboBercow · 04/06/2020 18:18

Fraser and Frasier are pronounced quite differently op. I don't think you'll have any issue there. It's a lovely classic Scottish name.

PrincessHoneysuckle · 04/06/2020 18:16

Average popular name here in the yorkshire town I'm in

BilboBercow · 04/06/2020 18:15

Callum and Fraser very popular names where I'm from and certainly not "chavvy" (eugh)
If you like that type of name what about:
Innes
Harris
Logan
Caleb
Archie
Cillian
Cameron
Connor

Ginqueen456 · 04/06/2020 18:14

I know a few children/teens called Callum and they are all little sh*its, it has put me off the name completely

LittleCandle · 04/06/2020 18:07

I always feel Callum is a very wet name. I was shocked when DN was called that and it really doesn't suit him. Luckily, he is usually called by his initials, or he was the last time I saw him. Ex-SIL unfriended me last year.

SnowdropFox · 04/06/2020 18:03

That's funny people calling it chavvy, it's quite a diverse name in Scotland. I wouldn't label it as chavvy at all! But regions/countries can be very different!

Roseburn · 04/06/2020 18:03

Calum and Fraser intergenerationally standard names where I'm from. Not over popular but not underused either.

helpmum2003 · 04/06/2020 17:33

I like Callum and Fraser from your list, they're lovely. Not keen on the others, sorry.

Callum isn't chavvy round here but Brogan definitely is. Boyd sounds like a surname and Rogan like a curry. Clive is very dated.

I think in the end you have to go for what you like as you'll get so many opinions..

Good luck.

Original poster
Paperstraw · 04/06/2020 17:24

BlueGreenYellowRed
I think this comment alone completely put me off from using the name. I wouldn't want my child to be considered chavvy in any way.

bunnyplops
Fraser is definitely on the top of our list, we do love how it couldn't easily have a nn and would most likely stay as Fraser the entire time. The show Frasier doesn't fully allow me to commit to it though but I'm hoping it wouldn't be much of a problem in the UK as it would in the US?

OP posts:
userabcname · 04/06/2020 17:19

I really like it. Don't know any babies or toddlers with this name but do know and few teenagers/ young adults. Definitely the best from your list!

bunnyplops · 04/06/2020 17:19

From your list I think Fraser is lovely by the way.

bunnyplops · 04/06/2020 17:16

I don't think it's popular in the uk. In all honesty I can see why. It sounds old and clunky to me and not in trendy old fashioned way I'm afraid Blush I'd put it in the Keith/Trevor/Brian category

CaffiSaliMali · 04/06/2020 17:07

All the Callums and Calums I know (4) are late 20s, this is in England. I expect there will be a wider age profile in Scotland.

I like Callum and Fraser.

BlueGreenYellowRed · 04/06/2020 17:04

It's nice but I think it's a bit of a naughty boy's name. Possibly because it's slightly chavvy.

How about Calvin?

autumnkate · 04/06/2020 16:40

I live in the SW and I’ve never met one. I like it!

Wheresthebiffer2 · 04/06/2020 15:43

Callum and Fraser - pretty normal names in Scotland
I don't know any children named the other choices on your list.

Also consider Conall? or Connal? Connor?

MittensTheSerpent · 04/06/2020 15:37

Callum is honestly one of the ugliest names I can think of. Reminds me of Golum.

Fraser, on the other hand, is lovely.

Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.

Join Mumsnet Log In

This thread is closed and is no longer accepting replies. Click here to start a new thread.