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Home › Baby Names Directory › Calhoun

Calhoun

♂ Boy

Pronounced kal-HOON /kælˈhun/Medium

Meaning: From the Scottish-Irish surname Colquhoun/Calhoun — from Gaelic, 'the narrow wood/corner' (cuil, 'a corner/nook', plus a wood element)Low

In 30 seconds: From the narrow woods: Calhoun is a Scottish-Irish surname. Bold, modern, and warm (said 'kal-HOON').
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Origin LowScottish, Gaelic
MeaningFrom the Scottish-Irish surname Colquhoun/Calhoun — from Gaelic, 'the narrow wood/corner' (cuil, 'a corner/nook', plus a wood element)
U.S. rank (2025)#7766 ↘ Falling
2025 U.S. births10 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)
Peak year2024
Total births (all-time)≈ 299

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 202418862025

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Calhoun comes from the Scottish-Irish surname Colquhoun/Calhoun — from Gaelic, variously 'the narrow wood/forest' and 'a corner or nook' (cuil, 'a corner, a recess'; routes layered, which we note), from a place in Dunbartonshire. A bold, modern Southern-American surname-name (nickname Cal).

It registers thinly in records. Rare, from-the-narrow-woods at the root, and bold.

Did you know? Calhoun comes from the Scottish-Irish Colquhoun — variously 'the narrow wood' or 'a corner/nook' (Gaelic cuil, 'a corner/recess') — a bold, modern surname-name (the routes are layered, which we note; said 'kal-HOON').
Overall data confidence 55%
References — Calhoun — routes layered

Variations

ColquhounCalhoon

Nicknames

Cal

Famous Bearers

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If you like Calhoun…

Calloway— a fellow Cal- surname boys' name
Callum— a companion Cal- boys' name
Cullen— a sound-neighbor Celtic surname boys' name
Sullivan— another Irish surname boys' name

Explore names like Calhoun

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Calhoun mean?

Calhoun is a Scottish-Irish surname, 'the narrow wood' or 'a corner/nook'; the routes are layered.

How do you pronounce Calhoun?

It's said kal-HOON /kælˈhun/ — two syllables, stress on the second.

Is Calhoun a boy or girl name?

Calhoun is a boy's name.

How popular is Calhoun?

Calhoun is a rare name in the U.S.

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