Namewise

Andreas vs Liam

Andreas and Liamcompared on official birth-registration statistics and Namewise's recorded data. This page states what each name's record shows — it never picks a winner or scores one name against the other.

Head to head

Ranks are only compared within one published list and one year. Two ranks from different years, from a boys' and a girls' list, or from different registrars are not comparable, so they are not placed side by side.

  • Norway · Boys

    In 2025, Andreas was ranked #96 and Liam #7 among boys in Norway.

  • Republic of Ireland · Boys

    In 2025, Andreas was ranked #829 and Liam #7 among boys in Republic of Ireland.

  • England and Wales · Boys

    In 2024, Andreas was ranked #552 and Liam #70 among boys in England and Wales.

Andreas and Liam over time

Andreas and Liam appear together in 3 published lists, across 83 years of shared records. Liam held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Andreas in 1.

The order between them changed and held in one of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.

Andreas reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, and Liam in none. Each position is a place inside its own list, so this compares when they peaked and never how high.

Counted list by list. Two names in the same published list are measured on the same scale in the same year, so those comparisons are real — but positions from different lists are not, so nothing here is combined into an overall standing.

How this pair is related

The relationship kinds these two qualify for, each under its own stated rule. Every one is drawn from a list they both appear in.

  • One moved ahead of the other

    In 2012, Liam moved ahead of Andreas in Norway · Boys — #16 and #22 the year before became #24 and #8.

  • Longest-running competitions

    Andreas and Liam were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 36 years, from 1982 to 2025, ending at #96 and #7.

  • Peaked in the same years

    Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Andreas #358 in 1996, Liam #10 in 1996.

List by list

  • Norway · Boys36 shared years, 19822025

    Andreas held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Liam in 14.

    Highest recorded here: Andreas #1 in 1991, Liam #3 in 2015.

    The order changed in 2012: Liam moved ahead. In 2011 they stood at #16 and #22; by 2012 that had become #24 and #8.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Andreas #96, Liam #7.

  • England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 19962024

    Andreas held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Liam in 29.

    Highest recorded here: Andreas #358 in 1996, Liam #10 in 1996.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Andreas #552, Liam #70.

  • Republic of Ireland · Boys18 shared years, 19662025

    Andreas held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Liam in 18.

    Highest recorded here: Andreas #222 in 1968, Liam #7 in 2020.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Andreas #829, Liam #7.

Two names moving past each other in a ranking is a fact about the ranking. Namewise does not claim one name displaced the other, that families chose between them, or that either influenced the other — none of that is in this data.

Side by side

Side-by-side comparison of Andreas, Liam
FieldAndreasLiam
Record typeOfficial statistical record (evidence-only)Editorially researched profile
Gender usagemalemale
MeaningNot yet recordedA short form, inheriting its meaning from William — 'resolute protection' or 'will helmet'.
OriginNot yet recordedIrish, short form of William (via Uilliam)
PronunciationNot yet recorded/ˈliːəm/
Syllables21
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageGB-ENW, IE, NOAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ
Most recent popularity observationNorway · Boys #96 (2025)Norway · Boys #7 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)Not yet recorded90/100
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)82/10095/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediummedium

What the data shows

  • Liam has a recorded origin (Irish, short form of William (via Uilliam)); Andreas does not have one recorded yet.
  • Andreas has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Liam.
  • A meaning is recorded for Liam; Andreas doesn't have one written yet.
  • Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, IE, NO.

How each name got here

Andreas

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1945

    First recorded at #140 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    Norway · Boys

  2. Highest recorded1945–2025

    Highest recorded position: #1 among boys in Norway, in 1991 (recorded 1945–2025).

    Norway · Boys

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #96 among boys in Norway, in 2025.

    Norway · Boys

Liam

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1964

    First recorded at #54 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    Republic of Ireland · Boys

  2. Highest recorded1986–2023

    Highest recorded position: #1 among boys in New Zealand, in 2010 (recorded 1986–2023).

    New Zealand · Boys

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #15 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.

    New South Wales, Australia · Boys