Colm
Say it: KUL-um
BoyIrishMeans dove4 letters2 syllables
#286
in Ireland (2025)
#276 with spellings combined
15
babies in 2025
#32
best rank (1970)
8,701
babies since 1964
Down 127
10-year rank change
Colm through the years
Compare with another name →Show the numbers
| Year | Babies (boys) | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 15 | #276 |
| 2024 | 11 | #339 |
| 2023 | 16 | #262 |
| 2022 | 20 | #233 |
| 2021 | 14 | #300 |
| 2020 | 21 | #224 |
| 2019 | 24 | #214 |
| 2018 | 28 | #199 |
| 2017 | 29 | #197 |
| 2016 | 33 | #177 |
| 2015 | 42 | #149 |
| 2014 | 48 | #132 |
| 2013 | 59 | #117 |
| 2012 | 51 | #141 |
| 2011 | 54 | #128 |
| 2010 | 47 | #152 |
| 2009 | 76 | #103 |
| 2008 | 67 | #116 |
| 2007 | 85 | #82 |
| 2006 | 97 | #73 |
| 2005 | 74 | #86 |
| 2004 | 88 | #74 |
| 2003 | 86 | #73 |
| 2002 | 83 | #76 |
| 2001 | 87 | #71 |
| 2000 | 89 | #65 |
| 1999 | 117 | #54 |
| 1998 | 82 | #66 |
| 1997 | 151 | #54 |
| 1996 | 149 | #55 |
| 1995 | 127 | #59 |
| 1994 | 146 | #50 |
| 1993 | 149 | #52 |
| 1992 | 179 | #47 |
| 1991 | 176 | #47 |
| 1990 | 199 | #43 |
| 1989 | 200 | #37 |
| 1988 | 236 | #37 |
| 1987 | 234 | #40 |
| 1986 | 261 | #37 |
| 1985 | 232 | #42 |
| 1984 | 280 | #38 |
| 1983 | 265 | #42 |
| 1982 | 260 | #43 |
| 1981 | 275 | #41 |
| 1980 | 253 | #49 |
| 1979 | 227 | #48 |
| 1978 | 268 | #35 |
| 1977 | 219 | #49 |
| 1976 | 233 | #44 |
| 1975 | 224 | #45 |
| 1974 | 228 | #45 |
| 1973 | 222 | #44 |
| 1972 | 256 | #37 |
| 1971 | 217 | #43 |
| 1970 | 256 | #32 |
| 1969 | 191 | #39 |
| 1968 | 178 | #40 |
| 1967 | 191 | #39 |
| 1966 | 199 | #38 |
| 1965 | 133 | #48 |
| 1964 | 144 | #45 |
Source: CSO, Irish Babies' Names (VSA50, VSA60), CC BY 4.0.
★ What does Colm mean?
Dove
Irish, from Latin columba (dove).
Say it right
KULum
Colm is written with one vowel but said as two syllables. Some say KOL-um.
Not:KOLMKOHM
The story of Colm
Colm comes from the Latin columba, a dove. It is not an Irish form of Colin. Instead it shares its roots with the Scottish Calum and with Malcolm, which means “servant of Colm”.
The name owes its long life to Colm Cille, “dove of the church”, also known as Saint Columba. Born at Gartan in Donegal in 521, he founded the monastery on Iona in the Hebrides around 563, from where Christianity spread through Scotland. Tradition says his departure followed a dispute over a copy he had made of a book of psalms. He is the patron saint of Derry and one of the three patron saints of Ireland, with Patrick and Brigid.
Colm was a steady favourite in the CSO records. It reached number 32 in 1970, and had the most babies in 1984, with 280 boys. It is less common today: in 2025, 15 boys were given it.
Say it differently where you're from, or spotted something wrong? Tell us.
Sources
- Wiktionary: Colm (Irish proper noun)
- Wikipedia: Colm
- Wikipedia: Columba
- CSO VSA50, Boys Names in Ireland with 3 or More Occurrences
At a glance
Similar names
Sibling ideas
Spellings counted here
| Spelling | 2025 | All years |
|---|---|---|
| Colm | 15 | 8,701 |
In Northern Ireland
Not in the 2025 list. Best rank #96 (1997); 208 babies since 1997.
Source: NISRA, Open Government Licence.