Colum
- Gender
- Boy
- Say it
- KOL-um
- Origin
- Latin
Colum is a boys' name of Latin origin, meaning “dove”. Too few babies were given it in the latest year to rank.
What does Colum mean?
Latin: Irish form of Columba, from Latin columba 'dove'
“dove”
Variant of Colm, the Irish form of Columba, the name of the saint who founded the monastery on Iona.
Is Colum a girl's or a boy's name?
Colum is a boys' name.
How popular is Colum in the UK?
No boys in the UK were given it in 2025, or too few to be listed. Its busiest year was 1996, with 9 boys.
Half of all the boys named Colum in the UK since 1996 were born between 1997 and 2005. It was already well used in 1996, when the records begin, so earlier boys aren't counted.
Colum in the UK, year by year
| Year | Boys | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 2 | #6,166 |
| 2014 | 0 | – |
| 2013 | 0 | – |
| 2012 | 3 | #4,999 |
| 2011 | 0 | – |
| 2010 | 0 | – |
| 2009 | 0 | – |
| 2008 | 5 | #3,305 |
| 2007 | 1 | #5,736 |
| 2006 | 0 | – |
| 2005 | 3 | #3,992 |
| 2004 | 3 | #3,792 |
| 2003 | 3 | #3,593 |
| 2002 | 1 | #4,262 |
| 2001 | 3 | #3,255 |
| 2000 | 1 | #4,018 |
| 1999 | 5 | #2,184 |
| 1998 | 7 | #1,727 |
| 1997 | 9 | #1,412 |
| 1996 | 9 | #1,394 |
Names like Colum
Names given in the same years and the same naming tradition, with a similar sound.
Oluwatobi, Chidubem, Chiziterem, Achim, Kwame, Chinedum, Ifeoluwa, Chukwuebuka, Obi, Ifechukwu, Enioluwa, Oluwadunsin
Names related to Colum
More Latin names
Oliver, Olivia, Leo, Roman, Aurora, Emily, Florence, Mabel, Luna, Nora, Rosie, Emilia, Max, Nova, Lucy, Julian
Sources
Figures from Baby names in England and Wales (Office for National Statistics), Babies' first names (National Records of Scotland) and Baby names (Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency). Nameling last updated them on 20 October 2026. How the figures are worked out, and the data to download.
To cite this page: Nameling, “Colum: name meaning, origin and popularity”, https://www.nameling.co.uk/names/colum, updated 20 October 2026.