Liam
Irish short form of Uilliam, the local version of William, which comes from Germanic roots meaning will or desire and helmet or protection.
Liam in 2025
Liam was given to 20,846 babies in the United States in 2025, making it the 1st most popular name of the year. That is roughly one in every 159 babies born.
The history of Liam
Liam has been the single most popular name in the country 8 times, and reached its highest point in 2024, when 22,288 babies were given the name.
Across the 79 years of records since 1947, 359,085 babies have been named Liam. Half of them were born before 2017, which places the name's centre of gravity with Generation Alpha.
Liam by decade
| Decade | Babies named Liam | Best rank |
|---|---|---|
| 1940s | 5 | 8,806 |
| 1950s | 117 | 3,425 |
| 1960s | 400 | 2,292 |
| 1970s | 784 | 1,887 |
| 1980s | 1,527 | 1,475 |
| 1990s | 11,919 | 267 |
| 2000s | 45,047 | 67 |
| 2010s | 174,261 | 1 |
| 2020s | 125,025 | 1 |
Where Liam is heading
Liam has risen 13% over the past decade, from 18,431 babies in 2015 to 20,846 in 2025.
Names like Liam
Names that rose and fell at the same time as Liam.