Darryl vs Liam
Darryl 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 2017, Darryl was ranked #610 and Liam #15 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2014, Darryl was ranked #398 and Liam #59 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2023, Darryl was ranked #4107 and Liam #71 among boys in England and Wales.
Darryl and Liam over time
Darryl and Liam appear together in 3 published lists, across 81 years of shared records. Liam held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Darryl in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Darryl 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.
- Longest-running competitions
Darryl and Liam were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 40 years, from 1966 to 2017, ending at #610 and #15.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Darryl #335 in 1996, Liam #10 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys40 shared years, 1966–2017
Darryl held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Liam in 40.
Highest recorded here: Darryl #156 in 1994, Liam #15 in 2009.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2017: Darryl #610, Liam #15.
England and Wales · Boys26 shared years, 1996–2023
Darryl held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Liam in 26.
Highest recorded here: Darryl #335 in 1996, Liam #10 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Darryl #4107, Liam #71.
Northern Ireland · Boys15 shared years, 1997–2014
Darryl held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Liam in 15.
Highest recorded here: Darryl #143 in 1997, Liam #36 in 1999.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2014: Darryl #398, Liam #59.
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 | Darryl | 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 | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Boys #4107 (2023) | Norway · Boys #7 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 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
- Liam has a recorded origin (Irish, short form of William (via Uilliam)); Darryl does not have one recorded yet.
- Darryl has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Liam.
- A meaning is recorded for Liam; Darryl doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Darryl
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #90 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1952 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Highest recorded1957–1975
Highest recorded position: #58 among boys in New Zealand, in 1963 (recorded 1957–1975).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2023
Most recently recorded at #4107 among boys in England and Wales, in 2023.
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