Liam Name Meaning, Origin and Popularity
Liam is predominantly used for boys. The statistics below show this exact spelling in official U.S. records.
How Do You Spell Liam?
Liam is spelled L-I-A-M. The name has 4 letters.
Liam at a Glance
- Usage
- Predominantly used for boys
- Meaning
- Liam is a short form of William, which means “resolute protector.”
- Origin
- Liam is commonly associated as a short form of the Old Germanic name William.
- Pronunciation
- LEE-uhm · 2 syllables
Liam Popularity in 2025
Rank#4,758
Recorded Births28
Rank#1
Recorded Births20,818
- Girls usage fell 719 places to #4,758 and recorded 8 fewer births compared with 2024.
- Boys usage held steady at #1 and recorded 1,434 fewer births compared with 2024.
Figures reflect this exact spelling in the latest available U.S. Social Security Administration records. See the complete year-by-year trend.
What Does the Name Liam Mean?
Liam is a short form of William, which means “resolute protector.”
Origin: Liam is commonly associated as a short form of the Old Germanic name William.
How Do You Pronounce Liam?
PronunciationLEE-uhm
Syllables2
What Is the History of the Name Liam?
- History
- Liam has been used as an independent given name primarily in English-speaking countries since the 20th century and has gained widespread popularity in recent decades.
Liam Popularity by Year
The table below shows the most recent available records for this exact spelling from 2014 through 2025. Use the full history page to explore every recorded year.
| Year | Usage Category | Recorded Births | National Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Girls | 28 | #4,758 |
| 2025 | Boys | 20,818 | #1 |
| 2024 | Girls | 36 | #4,039 |
| 2024 | Boys | 22,252 | #1 |
| 2023 | Girls | 30 | #4,565 |
| 2023 | Boys | 20,904 | #1 |
| 2022 | Girls | 26 | #5,028 |
| 2022 | Boys | 20,579 | #1 |
| 2021 | Girls | 30 | #4,507 |
| 2021 | Boys | 20,424 | #1 |
| 2020 | Girls | 33 | #4,169 |
| 2020 | Boys | 19,865 | #1 |
| 2019 | Girls | 30 | #4,546 |
| 2019 | Boys | 20,631 | #1 |
| 2018 | Girls | 24 | #5,315 |
| 2018 | Boys | 19,977 | #1 |
| 2017 | Girls | 38 | #3,919 |
| 2017 | Boys | 18,874 | #1 |
| 2016 | Girls | 19 | #6,401 |
| 2016 | Boys | 18,277 | #2 |
| 2015 | Girls | 21 | #6,036 |
| 2015 | Boys | 18,410 | #2 |
| 2014 | Girls | 32 | #4,455 |
| 2014 | Boys | 18,488 | #2 |
When Was Liam Most Popular?
Peak years are based on the highest recorded birth totals for this exact spelling and usage category. They are ordered by birth count, not chronologically.
2024 · Boys
22,252 recorded births
National rank #1
2023 · Boys
20,904 recorded births
National rank #1
2025 · Boys
20,818 recorded births
National rank #1
2019 · Boys
20,631 recorded births
National rank #1
Where Liam Ranked Highest in 2025
State rankings are calculated separately for girls and boys within each state. The SSA omits state-level names recorded fewer than five times, so low visible counts can still represent a relatively high state rank.
Top States for Boys
| State | Rank | Recorded Births |
|---|---|---|
| TX | #1 | 2,688 |
| CA | #1 | 2,624 |
| FL | #1 | 1,865 |
| NJ | #1 | 749 |
| IL | #1 | 690 |
| GA | #1 | 661 |
| VA | #1 | 590 |
| MD | #1 | 463 |