Rory or Callum?

[badg3r]

For DC3 - this is what we have whittled it down to bit I have small reservations about both. Please be brutal, it's what I need!

Rory - actually prefer the Gaelic pronunciation and spelling but we live in a non-English speaking country and half of the family would struggle with pronunciation too, so it doesn't seem fair on the kid to lumber them with a name that nobody can say or spell. Also very popular in Scotland atm and I'm a bit worried it's becoming more of a posh/trendy English name (nothing against either bit I am neither!)

Callum - I like because more traditional Scottish and more timeless perhaps? But on a bad day it makes me think of Gollum in terms of how it sounds and I've never know a Callum with much oomph to them so in my mind it is quite an inoffensive but maybe not so charismatic name.

Despite these reservations they do both rock the boxes of:

I wouldn't feel weird saying "that's my son ..."

Fit with other kids' names

I can shout them easily 😉

Also welcome to other suggestions of a similar vein! I liked Gregor too but DH not so much.

I’d go Rory

Rory.

I worked in a school and Callum was so popular, still is.

I prefer Rory.

I also like Callum, but I hear what you say about Gollum

Rory is my fave of those 2

Rory is lovely and my favourite by far of the two.

Another vote for Rory...probably because there's a fabulous one in the audio book I'm currently listening to!

I prefer Callum.

Rory

I'd choose Rory.

Rory ....lovely name for a little chap, a teen and a man.

Callum.

Rory is very difficult to say for people who struggle with their Rs.

@Pippilangstrumpfie, do you really think the OP should name her child to minimise difficulty for people with speech defects?

Yes, because her son may well struggle- it's pretty common.

I prefer Callum

We live in Scotland and both names are very popular here. Honestly, I don't think there's much to choose between the two. I have loved overseas and had a name that is impossible to pronounce for locals, it's a pain.

Rory has got far too trendy where I am. I don't know any Callum's under 10

Rory. Whichever spelling you like. I've known some naughty Callums so am slightly scarred by the name!

Rory.....I hate the name callum. However I would share your reservation about pronouncation.

I love both but Callum just a wee bit more

Rory.

You mentioned your concerns about it becoming a posh/trendy English name- the Rory I knew was a lovely welsh lad who absolutely was NOT posh in any way whatsoever so I don't associate it with being posh. I probably really like the name because of him but I think it's a lovely name anyway.

Rory. Was on my list had DC2 been a boy.

Callum is a lovely name, but it still has naughty boy connotations for me (I was a children's social worker for 8 years and it put me off a lot of names!).

I’ve only ever known one Rory.

Callum seems very popular in my area (north east) for anyone between 14-22. Haven’t stumbled across a young Callum. Personally I really like it.

Alternatively if you like Callum what about Cameron? Similar ring to it but harder to change to Gollum

My son is a Rory. He has just turned 22. When he was at school he was the only one. So pleased we called him that. Suits him perfectly. My daughter, who is a big Gilmore Girls fan, has said if she had a daughter she is going to call her Lorelai and shorten it to Rory after her brother.
Saying that, I do also like the name Callum but I think that sounds posher than Rory.

Thanks everyone!! I did originally like Rory first but Callum came up in conversation a few months ago and has grown on me a lot. I seem to go through this self flagellation process each time we have a baby where I spend several weeks telling myself the names we picked are rubbish, and if I still like them after that it's a good sign!

With Callum I do have a bit of a "naughty boy" connotation with that name too... but Rory is the noise a lion makes so does that make it even?!? I went down a bit of a rabbit hole the other night thinking of how names sound...
Rory = roary
Matt = mat
Phill = fill
Noah = know a
Isaac = i suck

... I love all of these names though in spite of my ramblings...!

Haha OP your associations are hilarious. We've just had DD2, but had she been a boy, we would've seriously considered Rory, such a lovely name. I also prefer the Gaelic (Irish) spelling but thought it wasn't practical, living in England. I like that it's the sound a lion makes! My only reservation was what if he had a speech impediment and couldn't say R, but then I figured he could use a middle name.

I do not like Callum much. It makes me think of Callum Best, ugh.