Where does the name Liam come from?

Liam is a boy name of Irish origin.

Is Liam a boy or a girl name?

Liam is used for both. In U.S. Social Security records, about 0% of children given the name Liam are girls and 100% are boys.

How popular is the name Liam in 2023?

Liam ranks #4617 for boys in the U.S. Social Security Administration's 2023 dataset. Its all-time U.S. peak was 2023 with 20,934 babies.

How do you pronounce Liam?

Liam is pronounced LEE-am (2 syllables).

What are common spellings of Liam?

Liam is also written as William, Wilhelm, Guillaume.

A name from Irish · Boy

Liam

Strong-willed warrior; a short form of William, from Germanic elements meaning 'will, desire' and 'helmet, protection'.

Compare

Popularity over time

A 76-year arc in numbers.

315,466 U.S. births recorded from 1947–2023.

Popularity · 1947–2023

20,934 births in 2023

1947 1985 2023

Babies named per year Peak year Most recent

Meaning

A name that means something.

LStrong-willed warrior; a short form of William, from Germanic elements meaning 'will, desire' and 'helmet, protection'.

Variants & spellings

3 ways to spell "Liam".

Each transliteration carries a slightly different cultural fingerprint.

William Most common Wilhelm Guillaume

Famous bearers

People who carry the name Liam.

L
Liam Neeson (actor)
L
Liam Hemsworth (actor)

Quick answers

People often ask about Liam.

What does the name Liam mean?: Liam means strong-willed warrior; a short form of William, from Germanic elements meaning 'will, desire' and 'helmet, protection'.
Where does the name Liam come from?: Liam is a boy name of Irish origin.
Is Liam a boy or a girl name?: Liam is used for both. In U.S. Social Security records, about 0% of children given the name Liam are girls and 100% are boys.
How popular is the name Liam in 2023?: Liam ranks #4617 for boys in the U.S. Social Security Administration's 2023 dataset. Its all-time U.S. peak was 2023 with 20,934 babies.
How do you pronounce Liam?: Liam is pronounced LEE-am (2 syllables).
What are common spellings of Liam?: Liam is also written as William, Wilhelm, Guillaume.

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About this page

Popularity counts come from the U.S. Social Security Administration's national dataset. Meanings and origins are curated from etymological sources. If you spot an error, please let us know.