Andrew vs Liam
Andrew 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.
New Zealand · Boys
In 2013, Andrew was ranked #75 and Liam #6 among boys in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Andrew was ranked #106 and Liam #7 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Norway · Boys
In 2021, Andrew was ranked #458 and Liam #8 among boys in Norway.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2016, Andrew was ranked #89 and Liam #13 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Andrew was ranked #216 and Liam #42 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Andrew was ranked #104 and Liam #47 among boys in Scotland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Andrew was ranked #315 and Liam #70 among boys in England and Wales.
Andrew and Liam over time
Andrew and Liam appear together in 6 published lists, across 197 years of shared records. Liam held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Andrew in 1.
The order between them changed and held in 5 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Andrew reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 5 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 took the other's place near the top
In Northern Ireland · Boys, Liam moved into the top 50 at #35 in 2008 as Andrew fell out of it to #80, having been #33 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1996, Liam moved ahead of Andrew in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #15 and #25 the year before became #22 and #19.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 32 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Andrew and Liam averaged 42.4 places apart, ending at #89 and #13.
- Mirrored each other
Over 20 shared years in Norway · Boys, Liam rose about as far as Andrew fell — from #283 and #586 in 1982 to #458 and #8 in 2021.
- Longest-running competitions
Andrew and Liam were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Boys for 32 years, from 1983 to 2016, ending at #89 and #13.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Andrew #29 in 1996, Liam #10 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025
Andrew held the stronger position in 35 of those years, Liam in 27.
Highest recorded here: Andrew #16 in 1992, Liam #6 in 2021.
The order changed in 1999: Liam moved ahead. In 1998 they stood at #23 and #30; by 1999 that had become #28 and #21.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Andrew #106, Liam #7.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys32 shared years, 1983–2016
Andrew held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Liam in 19.
Highest recorded here: Andrew #5 in 1986, Liam #10 in 1997.
The order changed in 1996: Liam moved ahead. In 1995 they stood at #15 and #25; by 1996 that had become #22 and #19.
Most recent shared year, 2016: Andrew #89, Liam #13.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Andrew held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Liam in 29.
Highest recorded here: Andrew #29 in 1996, Liam #10 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Andrew #315, Liam #70.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Andrew held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Liam in 17.
Highest recorded here: Andrew #5 in 1997, Liam #35 in 2008.
The order changed in 2008: Liam moved ahead. In 2007 they stood at #33 and #59; by 2008 that had become #80 and #35.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Andrew #216, Liam #42.
New Zealand · Boys26 shared years, 1986–2013
Andrew held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Liam in 17.
Highest recorded here: Andrew #6 in 1987, Liam #1 in 2011.
The order changed in 1995: Liam moved ahead. In 1994 they stood at #15 and #18; by 1995 that had become #18 and #8.
Most recent shared year, 2013: Andrew #75, Liam #6.
Norway · Boys20 shared years, 1982–2021
Andrew held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Liam in 15.
Highest recorded here: Andrew #277 in 1987, Liam #7 in 2014.
The order changed in 1996: Liam moved ahead. In 1995 they stood at #471 and #488; by 1996 that had become #561 and #370.
Most recent shared year, 2021: Andrew #458, Liam #8.
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
| Field | Andrew | Liam |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | The English form of Greek Andreas, from 'andreios' ('manly, masculine'), itself from 'aner' ('man'). The apostle Andrew was the first disciple to join Jesus and is patron saint of Scotland. | A short form, inheriting its meaning from William — 'resolute protection' or 'will helmet'. |
| Origin | Greek, biblical | Irish, short form of William (via Uilliam) |
| Pronunciation | /ˈæn.dɹuː/ | /ˈliːəm/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 1 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #106 (2025) | Norway · Boys #7 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Andrew is recorded with a Greek, biblical origin, while Liam is recorded with a Irish, short form of William (via Uilliam) origin.
- Andrew has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Liam.
- Andrew's recorded meaning differs from Liam's — see the table above for each.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
Andrew
Popularity journey
First recorded1946
First recorded at #344 among boys in Norway in 1946 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1954–2013
Highest recorded position: #2 among boys in New Zealand, in 1975 (recorded 1954–2013).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #106 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Liam
Popularity journey
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
Highest recorded1986–2023
Highest recorded position: #1 among boys in New Zealand, in 2010 (recorded 1986–2023).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #15 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys