The name Liam has been one of the fastest-rising Irish names in the United States. Its popularity seemed to explode in the mid to late 2000s when the Social Security Administration showed its drastic jump from the No. 75 spot in 2008 to No. 15 in 2011. Around this time, the massively popular movie franchise, “Taken,” made its debut, starring Irish actor Liam Neeson. This undoubtedly contributed to the name’s sudden popularity. Actor Liam Hemsworth may have also played a role after his debut in the 2012 movie “The Hunger Games,” based on the popular novel by Suzanne Collins. Liam became the No. 2 most popular U.S. boys name in 2014, staying there until its victorious transition to No. 1 in 2017. Since then, it has remained the most popular boy name in the United States—but its newfound fame doesn’t stop there. Parents around the world have started to recognize the appeal of Liam, including those in Germany, Spain, Sweden, Belgium, and Switzerland.

Name Variations

Variants of the name Liam include:

Lyam (German)William (German)Lliam (Irish)

Similar Names

Other popular names for those who like Liam:

Lucas Logan Carter Oliver Elijah Levi Noah Aiden Ethan Mason Grayson Owen Oliver Elijah

Other Irish boy names:

FinnRoryKieranDeclanFlynnBrodyCillianQuinnAidanKeaganCullenMurphyMack

Other boy names that start with L:

Landon Lucas Lee Lennon Layton Leland Legend Lennox Luke Lincoln Leo Lane Lorenzo

Suggested Sibling Names

Ethan Emma Olivia Lily Sophia Lillian Laura Aden Owen Jack Connor Chloe Ava

Famous People Named Liam

The popularity of Liam was inspired mainly by these pop culture celebrities:

Liam Gallagher, English lead singer of the ’90s rock band OasisLiam Payne, English singer and member of the former boy band One DirectionLiam Neeson, Irish actor, known for his roles in “Schindler’s List” and the “Taken” franchiseLiam Hemsworth, Australian actor, known for starring in “The Last Song” and “The Hunger Games” franchise

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