Rising since 1985, #6,803 for boys today.
Popularity of Colm since 1962
Babies named Colm per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 2007, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Colm's real moment was 2016.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1960s | 32 |
| 1970s | 49 |
| 1980s | 44 |
| 1990s | 119 |
| 2000s | 189 |
| 2010s | 145 |
| 2020s | 84 |
Meaning & origin
Colm is a distinctly Irish name meaning 'dove', derived directly from the Gaelic word. It first appeared in U.S. records in 1962, but remained rare for decades. Its popularity has been rising since 1985, peaking in 2016, yet it remains uncommon, with only about 1 in 142,340 boys receiving the name in 2025, placing it at rank 6,803. The name is a short form of Colmán, itself linked to the Latin Columba, and has been borne by numerous Irish saints. Though still infrequent in the U.S., Colm enjoys steady use in Ireland and among Irish-American families, and its rising trajectory suggests growing recognition as a simple yet culturally rooted choice.
Colm derives from the Irish Gaelic word 'colm' meaning 'dove'. It is a shorter form of Colmán, an early Irish saint's name, and is also cognate with the Latin Columba. The name has been consistently used in Ireland, especially in honor of Saint Colm, and saw a notable revival in the late 20th century.
“Colm” around the world
Where Colm lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
Ireland
15
babies in 2025
Sources: CSO Ireland (Ireland).
Nicknames & variants
Variants: Colum
Sibling names for Colm
Names that share Colm's style, for a brother or sister.
