Liam
Liam was the 1st most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 20,818 babies. That is its highest rank since records began in 1880. Over the last ten years it has moved up 1 places. More babies were named Liam in the 2010s than in any other decade.
Meaning Irish short form of William · Germanic, Irish
Say it LEE-um /ˈliəm/
- Rank in 2025
- #1 boys, unchanged since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 20,818boys
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a boy’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 202422,252 babies
- Total since 1880
- 359,085babies recorded
What does the name Liam mean?
Liam is the Irish short form of Uilliam, the Irish adaptation of William. William is built from two Germanic elements, 'will' and 'helmet'. According to Wikipedia, William entered Irish after the Anglo-Norman invasion of the 12th century. Liam was used in Ireland long before it became an American name.
willo (Old High German, “will”)helm (Old High German / Old Saxon, “helmet”)
How sure is this? Well established.
See also: Germanic names, names that mean protector.
Sources for this meaning
Liam popularity since 1880
A few girls are given the name too: 549 since 1995, 28 in 2025.
| Year | Rank (boys) | Babies (boys) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #1 | 20,818 |
| 2020 | #1 | 19,865 |
| 2010 | #30 | 10,933 |
| 2000 | #140 | 2,781 |
| 1990 | #605 | 277 |
| 1980 | #826 | 114 |
| 1970 | #1,188 | 49 |
| 1960 | #1,674 | 24 |
| 1950 | #2,518 | 10 |
| 1940 | — | — |
| 1930 | — | — |
| 1920 | — | — |
| 1910 | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — |
How popular is Liam, counting every spelling?
Liam is the most common spelling of a name family that ranked #1 for boys in 2025 once every spelling is counted together. Together these spellings went to 20,830 boys in 2025.
| Spelling | Babies 2025 | Official rank | Babies 2021–2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Liam | 20,818 | #1 | 104,977 |
| Lliam | 7 | #10,276 | 68 |
Spellings count together when they sound the same in American English and are used for the same sex; nicknames and forms that sound different (such as Theo and Theodore) are kept apart. How we group spellings.
How many kids will share the name Liam?
20,818 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Liam (5.77 per 1,000 births). For a boy named Liam born in 2025, the chance that another child with the same name is in a class of 20 children the same age is about 1 in 10. If every grade liked the name as much as the 2025 babies do, a typical elementary school of 430 pupils would have about 2.5 children named Liam.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Liam?
About 355,000 people born in the US named Liam are alive today, with a median age of 9; half are between 5 and 14. That makes Liam a young name: most people with it are children.
Babies given the name each year (SSA) times the share of that birth year still alive (SSA life tables). Counts people born in the US only. Method.
Liam by state
How common Liam was among boys born in each state in 2021–2025. It is notably more common than nationally in Rhode Island (1.8×), Delaware (1.7×), Maryland (1.6×), Florida (1.5×), New Jersey (1.5×). It is least common, relative to the national rate, in Michigan, Mississippi, Ohio.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Liam: their share of US boys followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Liam, they share its era and feel.
Middle names for Liam · Sibling names for Liam
Liam is also a nickname for William.
Questions about the name Liam
What does Liam mean?
Liam means “Irish short form of William” (Germanic, Irish origin). Certainty: well established.
How popular is the name Liam?
Liam was the 1st most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 20,818 babies. That is its highest rank since records began in 1880. Over the last ten years it has moved up 1 places. More babies were named Liam in the 2010s than in any other decade.
Is Liam a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a boy’s name given the name Liam in the US.
Where is Liam most popular?
In 2021–2025, Liam was most common in Rhode Island (21.96 per 1,000 boys), followed by Delaware and Maryland.