Arran vs Liam

Arran 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.

Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2022, Arran was ranked #657 and Liam #8 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Arran was ranked #51 and Liam #47 among boys in Scotland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2002, Arran was ranked #220 and Liam #54 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Arran was ranked #1025 and Liam #70 among boys in England and Wales.

Arran and Liam over time

Arran and Liam appear together in 2 published lists, across 57 years of shared records. Liam held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Arran in 0.

In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.

Each reached its own highest recorded position first in 1 of the lists they share.

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.

Mirrored each other
Over 28 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Boys, Liam rose about as far as Arran fell — from #292 and #53 in 1979 to #657 and #8 in 2022.
Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Arran #207 in 1997, Liam #10 in 1996.

List by list

England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Arran held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Liam in 29.
Highest recorded here: Arran #207 in 1997, Liam #10 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Arran #1025, Liam #70.
Republic of Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1979–2022
Arran held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Liam in 28.
Highest recorded here: Arran #196 in 2000, Liam #8 in 2022.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Arran #657, 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.

Where to go next

Comparisons that share a name, a rule or a published list with this one. Each is an existing comparison page with its own evidence — nothing here says these pairs are alike.

Other comparisons involving Liam

Pairs where Liam shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Liam vs Ciaran
In 1964 they stood at #54 and #49 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 5 places apart; by 2025 they were #7 and #372.
Liam · Ciaran · 61 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
See the 2025 Republic of Ireland ranking
Liam vs Darren
In 1997 they stood at #48 and #52 in Northern Ireland · Boys, 4 places apart; by 2024 they were #42 and #404.
Liam · Darren · 24 shared years, 1997–2024 · Started together, ended far apart
See the 2024 Northern Ireland ranking
Liam vs Dean
In 1997 they stood at #48 and #45 in Northern Ireland · Boys, 3 places apart; by 2023 they were #52 and #348.
Liam · Dean · 24 shared years, 1997–2023 · Started together, ended far apart
See the 2023 Northern Ireland ranking
Liam vs Gary
In 1997 they stood at #48 and #57 in Northern Ireland · Boys, 9 places apart; by 2022 they were #62 and #352.
Liam · Gary · 20 shared years, 1997–2022 · Started together, ended far apart
See the 2022 Northern Ireland ranking

Side by side

Side-by-side comparison of Arran, Liam
Field	Arran	Liam
Record type	Official statistical record (evidence-only)	Editorially researched profile
Gender usage	male	male
Meaning	Not yet recorded	A short form, inheriting its meaning from William — 'resolute protection' or 'will helmet'.
Origin	Not yet recorded	Irish, short form of William (via Uilliam)
Pronunciation	Not yet recorded	/ˈliːəm/
Syllables	2	1
Common variants / nicknames	Not yet recorded	Not yet recorded
Recorded regional usage	GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE	AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ
Most recent popularity observation	Scotland · Boys #51 (2024)	Norway · Boys #7 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)	Not yet recorded	90/100
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)	94/100	95/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)	100/100	100/100
Data Confidence	medium	medium

What the data shows

Liam has a recorded origin (Irish, short form of William (via Uilliam)); Arran does not have one recorded yet.
Arran has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Liam.
A meaning is recorded for Liam; Arran doesn't have one written yet.
Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE.

How each name got here

Arran

Popularity journey

First recorded1979
First recorded at #292 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1979 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #1025 among boys in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · 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