Boy nameCurrently #1 in the USSteady
Liam
LEE-um//ˈliːəm//
2 syllablesPeak year: 20244 lettersStarts with L
Meaning & origin
Resolute protector (short form of William)
Liam is an Irish short form of William, itself from Germanic elements meaning 'will' or 'desire' and 'protection'. Once a purely Irish nickname, it has become one of the most popular boys' names across the English-speaking world since the 2010s, prized for its warm, easy sound.
Liam's popularity over time
| Year | Births named Liam |
|---|---|
| 1947 | 5 |
| 1950 | 10 |
| 1954 | 8 |
| 1955 | 12 |
| 1956 | 18 |
| 1957 | 28 |
| 1958 | 24 |
| 1959 | 17 |
| 1960 | 24 |
| 1961 | 27 |
| 1962 | 24 |
| 1963 | 43 |
| 1964 | 38 |
| 1965 | 36 |
| 1966 | 47 |
| 1967 | 60 |
| 1968 | 55 |
| 1969 | 47 |
| 1970 | 49 |
| 1971 | 59 |
| 1972 | 63 |
| 1973 | 61 |
| 1974 | 72 |
| 1975 | 81 |
| 1976 | 71 |
| 1977 | 97 |
| 1978 | 112 |
| 1979 | 119 |
| 1980 | 115 |
| 1981 | 123 |
| 1982 | 157 |
| 1983 | 146 |
| 1984 | 146 |
| 1985 | 150 |
| 1986 | 152 |
| 1987 | 147 |
| 1988 | 172 |
| 1989 | 224 |
| 1990 | 277 |
| 1991 | 270 |
| 1992 | 305 |
| 1993 | 400 |
| 1994 | 668 |
| 1995 | 1,213 |
| 1996 | 1,748 |
| 1997 | 2,112 |
| 1998 | 2,209 |
| 1999 | 2,717 |
| 2000 | 2,793 |
| 2001 | 3,029 |
| 2002 | 3,382 |
| 2003 | 3,582 |
| 2004 | 3,842 |
| 2005 | 4,161 |
| 2006 | 4,525 |
| 2007 | 5,152 |
| 2008 | 5,991 |
| 2009 | 8,588 |
| 2010 | 10,954 |
| 2011 | 13,462 |
| 2012 | 16,846 |
| 2013 | 18,175 |
| 2014 | 18,516 |
| 2015 | 18,428 |
| 2016 | 18,291 |
| 2017 | 18,903 |
| 2018 | 19,998 |
| 2019 | 20,652 |
| 2020 | 19,891 |
| 2021 | 20,437 |
| 2022 | 20,589 |
| 2023 | 20,916 |
| 2024 | 22,198 |
Liam through the decades
- Liam peaked in 2024, when 22,198 babies were named Liam in the US.
- Over the last 10 years of data (2015–2024), use of Liam has risen 88% compared to the 10 years before that.
- Liam currently ranks #1 in the US and is holding steady.
Nicknames
Liam
Variants & spellings
William
Famous people named Liam
- Liam Neeson — actor