Liam

Liam - A very popular male name

Liam appeared on the charts for the first time in 1954 on position #1676. In this article you'll learn the history of this name, statistics, see famous people named Liam and more.
Are you having a baby or looking to learn more about the name Liam? Our experts and editorial staff have gathered trends and insights for 30,000+ baby names over the last 100 years -- And on this page you will learn everything you ever wanted to know about the name Liam. The baby boy name Liam was given to 20,818 baby boys in 2025, ranking #1 on the national boy baby name top chart.


With that position 1 in 70 baby boys were given this name - making this a very popular male name according to our Popularity Score algorithm. Liam peaked in popularity 1 years ago in 2025 on position 1.

Famous with this name

How would you rate Liam, 1-5?

Liam is currently topping the charts in...

Did you know that popularity can vary a lot between states? Liam is currently topping the baby name charts in Arkansas at position #1 - and is the least popular in Maine at position #12.

Why care about state specific baby name charts? It could be that a name that is very popular on the national overall charts is less (or even more) popular where you live. So make sure you check out the state specific charts below and find out how popular or unique Liam is where you live.

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Liam origin and meaning

Irish — short form of Uilliam, the Irish version of William

Resolute protector — from the Germanic elements wil (will, desire) and helm (helmet, protection)

For most of its life Liam was simply what Irish families called a William at home; it only stepped out as a name in its own right in the last century. It travelled with the Irish diaspora and then took off worldwide — in this site's data it has been America's #1 boys' name for several years running.

Attested etymology

Liam is a 4 letter name with 2 syllables.

To see famous people named Liam, pop culture references for the name Liam and nicknames & variations - visit Nameberry or Wikipedia.

Similar to Liam

We've found the following names that sound similar to Liam, sorted by popularity.

Leon / Lonnie / Lynn / Lane / Layne / Lanny / Lennon / Lon / Lenny / Lian /

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Name statistics

Most parents-to-be know if they want a popular or unique name, and with these charts and data tables you can easily get a better understanding of how popular or unique this name is.

With a quick glance you can easily tell if this name is increasing or declining in popularity - But note that its current popularity can actually differ a lot from state to state.

Chart position per year (visualized)

Chart position per state (visualized)

Chart position per year (table view)

Chart position per state (table view)

Even more about Liam

These are some of the common questions you may want to have answered to know if this is the perfect name for your baby.

Is Liam a common or unique name?

By analyzing the number of births and frequency of this name we've determined that it's currently a very popular male name.

What is the number of syllables for the name Liam?

2 syllables. Why is this important? One of the things that makes a baby name sound good and have a nice rythm is the number of syllables - and especially the number of syllables along with the syllable count for your last name. A simple rule is to avoid having the same number of syllables in your first, middle and last name.

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Pronunciation

LEE-um · /ˈliːəm/

Around the world

• Uilliam (Irish) — The full Irish form of William that Liam was clipped from.
• Liam (German) — Used as-is; pronounced LEE-ahm.
• Liam (Dutch) — Used as-is across the Netherlands and Belgium.

Spellings and nicknames

• Lyam — Rare modern respelling.

Famous bearers

• Liam Neeson — Actor (Taken, Schindler's List) (b. 1952) Contemporary
• Liam Hemsworth — Actor (The Hunger Games) (b. 1990) Contemporary
• Liam Gallagher — Musician, frontman of Oasis (b. 1972) Contemporary

Style

ClassicInternational

Why parents choose it

Parents choose Liam for its balance: a genuine heritage name (Ireland's home form of William) that feels completely current. It signals warmth and easy confidence, needs no nickname, and travels across languages without friction.

Worth knowing

• Expect people to assume it is short for William — most Liams are simply Liam.
• As a long-running #1 name, a Liam will share it with classmates.