Baby Names US
boys' name ★ peaked 2007

Colm

Meaning dove Gender Boy Rank 2025 #6,881

From Irish Colm, from Late Latin Columba (literally “dove”), the name of a sixth century saint, one of the patron saints of Ireland and Scotland.

Rank 2025
#6,881
among boys · ↓633 vs 2024
Babies in 2025
12
named Colm
How common
1 in 142,340
boys born in 2025
Peak year
2007
28 babies
All-time total
662
#6,675 all-time among boys
First recorded
1962
in Social Security records

Colm popularity over time

662 babies have been named Colm since 1962, according to official Social Security records. Switch measure to see births per year or the yearly rank.

Measure
Births per 1,000 babies of that sex, comparable across eras
0.010.010.020.0218801900192019401960198020002020Peak 2016Boys

By decade. Change compares yearly averages, so the current partial decade is on equal footing. Best rank is the name's best yearly rank within the decade.

Decade Boys Per year Change Best rank
1880s – – – –
1890s – – – –
1900s – – – –
1910s – – – –
1920s – – – –
1930s – – – –
1940s – – – –
1950s – – – –
1960s 32 3 – #2,826
1970s 49 5 +53% #3,764
1980s 44 4 -10% #4,198
1990s 119 12 +170% #4,049
2000s 189 19 +59% #3,457
2010s 145 15 -23% #3,792
2020s (to 2025) 84 14 -3% #5,107

The story of Colm

Colm is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #6,881 in 2025 with 12 babies given the name. It is currently rising compared with a decade ago.

Since 1962, 662 American babies have been named Colm. Its peak came in 2007, when 28 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 2000s.

The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Colm stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Colm?

The median living Colm is about 21 years old; half are between 10 and 30. An estimated 600 people named Colm are alive in the United States today.

median 21 020406080100

Estimated from births per year and Social Security period life tables; an approximation of the living age distribution, by age in years.

Colm year by year

Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.

Year Boys Boys rank
2025 12 #6,881
2024 14 #6,248
2023 19 #5,107
2022 18 #5,252
2021 13 #6,397
2020 8 #8,899
2019 16 #5,610
2018 11 #7,222
2017 14 #6,105
2016 28 #3,792
2015 13 #6,398
2014 10 #7,658
2013 15 #5,714
2012 13 #6,385
2011 10 #7,609
2010 15 #5,793
2009 10 #7,798
2008 11 #7,292
2007 28 #3,705
2006 19 #4,709
2005 19 #4,502
2004 20 #4,291
2003 26 #3,457
2002 16 #4,741
2001 18 #4,330
2000 22 #3,656
1995 13 #4,558
1990 9 #5,458
1985 5 #6,715
1980 – –
1975 7 #4,399
1970 6 #4,331
1965 9 #2,826
1960 – –
1955 – –
1950 – –
1945 – –
1940 – –
1935 – –
1930 – –
1925 – –
1920 – –
1915 – –
1910 – –
1905 – –
1900 – –
1895 – –
1890 – –
1885 – –
1880 – –

Famous people named Colm

The most globally famous bearers of the name, ranked by fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).

  1. 1 Colm Meaney Colm Meaney Irish actor (born 1953) Contemporary
  2. 2 Colm Feore Colm Feore Canadian actor (born 1958) Contemporary
  3. 3 Colm Tóibín Colm Tóibín Irish novelist and writer (born 1955) Contemporary
  4. 4 Colm Wilkinson Colm Wilkinson Irish singer and actor (born 1944) Contemporary

Portraits from Wikipedia (Wikimedia Commons).

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers about Colm, drawn from the same Social Security data as the charts above.

How old is the average Colm?

The median living Colm is about 21 years old. Half of all living Colms are between 10 and 30 years old.

How many people named Colm are alive today?

An estimated 600 people named Colm are alive in the United States, based on 662 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

What does the name Colm mean?

From Irish Colm, from Late Latin Columba (literally “dove”), the name of a sixth century saint, one of the patron saints of Ireland and Scotland.

How popular is the name Colm in 2025?

Colm ranked #6,881 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 12 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.

How many people are named Colm?

662 babies have been named Colm in the United States since 1962, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Colm most popular?

Colm peaked in 2007, when 28 newborns received the name.

Is Colm a boy or girl name?

Colm is overwhelmingly a boy's name: 100% of babies with the name.

Is the name Colm rising or falling?

Colm is on the rise, noticeably more popular now than a decade ago.

Who are famous people named Colm?

Well-known people named Colm include Colm Meaney (actor), Colm Feore (actor), Colm Tóibín (writer).

Names like Colm

Names that sound and feel close to Colm: shared sounds, similar era, similar popularity. Each links to its full history.

Compare Colm with similar names → More names starting with C →