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Original poster

Callum or not?

64 replies

MissingEngland · 21/08/2018 18:24

My three week old is unnamed. The only name we agree on is Callum BUT I’m getting mixed feedback from UK friends about it being chavvy / associated with naughty boys. Lots in internet data on that topic but all circa 2009-2012. Does this name still have reputational problems? Must we move on?

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SoupDragon · 21/08/2018 19:21

The whole “naughty name” thing is rubbish.

Do people really think a name has any bearing on behaviour?

TopBitchoftheWitches · 21/08/2018 19:26

Chavvy?
How on earth have you come up with that?

BossWitch · 21/08/2018 19:28

Nominative determinism is a thing. If having the surname Baker can increase the likelihood of you going into cookery, why couldn't having the name Kaiden, Jayden, Kagan, Kai, etc increase your chances of being naughty?

swizzells2003 · 21/08/2018 19:30

I have a Callum - we got told the same .... all naughty. Decided to go for it anyway as my DH loves the name.
Go for what you love

Hepzibar · 21/08/2018 19:31

I'm also in education and safeguarding. Callum, Calum, Kallum as others have said, a naughty/troubled boy name.

Connor, Conor, Konnor, Brandon, Dylan, Dillon same.

It's sad because they are nice names but unfortunately the Kevin, Keith, Darren, Sharon, Tracey of their time.

BossWitch · 21/08/2018 19:31

Ps. Taught all of those names. All "naughty" to give the understatement of the year! Kagan was the nastiest - she cut off another girl's hair in the middle of the locker area. Lovely lass.

userabcname · 21/08/2018 19:37

I'm a teacher and have taught surprisingly few Callums (given it's one of my cousin's name and there were 5 of them in his year at school - he is 20 now). It's not a naughty name here. I like it.

SoupDragon · 21/08/2018 19:39

It probably just means you’re prejudiced.

Halfahunnerstillastunner · 21/08/2018 19:45

I'm also in Scotland (if you couldnt guess by my username Smile) and frankly you can't throw a stick 5 feet here without hitting a Callum there's absolutely loads of them around of all ages.
It's too normal to be a "chavvy" or "naughty" name here but it is very very popular in my area.
Calum with one L is less used but in my opinion nicer and more in keeping with the traditional roots of the name.
If you both love it, use it!

Moominfan · 21/08/2018 19:54

The only Callum I've ever met was such a sweet natured lovely boy so my view is very bias. But yes nice name :)

TopBitchoftheWitches · 21/08/2018 19:54

Clearly my son is an exception, the boy has only just got his first gf. He is at college and doing really well.

Perhaps you should look at the parents of these children before casting aspersions on a name.

Sandstormbrewing · 21/08/2018 19:54

I've never met a nice one. The young ones I know are naughty and the old ones are rough. All that I know and know of are generallyerally lower social class, which some would consider 'chavy' I guess.

TopBitchoftheWitches · 21/08/2018 19:56

Lower social class? Compared to which social class?

Original poster
MissingEngland · 21/08/2018 20:25

Thanks for you feedback, everyone. I should have made my original post a little more detailed but that’s what comes of one handed posting while breastfeeding :)

I do know it’s a good name in Scotland. I seem to run into issues with it in the south west of England which is where I’d return to one day. Currently I live in North America where the name is unheard of!

OP posts:
firsttime17 · 21/08/2018 20:26

I really like it!!x

Lobsterquadrille2 · 21/08/2018 20:32

I like it. DD is friends with a Cullum and I like that too.

MalachisMum1 · 21/08/2018 20:39

Another Scot here. I work with young people and know s few lovely Callum's. No negative connections x

Whyiseveryonesoangry · 21/08/2018 20:49

I know a 20 year old Callum who has caused his parents no end of grief since he was around 12 or so!

FunkeMonkey · 21/08/2018 20:51

I don't like Callum. Spoilt toddler crosses my mind when I think of the name

MrsMolehillMountain · 21/08/2018 21:23

When my DS was at primary school, he had 4 Callums in his class!
At secondary school he also knew at least half a dozen other Callum.
However, it seems to be less popular nowadays?
When DS was born in the late 90s, Callum was very popular so you may not get that same level of popularity now which is a good thing!
A lot of people probably think it's chavvy because it's such a popular name and therefore we all know of at least one naughty Callum! That's just what happens when names are common- people see good kids and bad kids with that name.
I think it's lovely

Gibble1 · 21/08/2018 21:47

My Callum was 1 of 5 in his preschool. I’ve seen them all grow up and none of them are naughty!
They are all quiet and shy and quite well behaved on the whole.
Although very popular, the name is generally used by the middle class families here in the South West. Mine is 14 now.
Racking my brains though, I have met 2 Callum’s who were really very naughty. But I met their parents and siblings and they weren’t much better 😬

Blarblarblar · 21/08/2018 21:58

Go Calum (one L) it’s more Scottish and I know only lovely boys and men with that name.

DramaAlpaca · 21/08/2018 22:25

It's lovely. A perfectly normal & very nice Scottish/Irish name.

The only thing that makes people think a name is a 'naughty boy name' is prejudice.

Whalebird · 21/08/2018 22:30

What about Malcolm? Similar sounds (they're related names), relatively unusual, bit Scottish, cute for a child and appropriate for a grownup.

Itchytights · 21/08/2018 22:32

Awful name.

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