Glen vs Liam
Glen 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 2025, Glen was ranked #676 and Liam #7 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2008, Glen was ranked #378 and Liam #35 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Glen was ranked #307 and Liam #47 among boys in Scotland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Glen was ranked #3688 and Liam #70 among boys in England and Wales.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1986, Glen was ranked #91 and Liam #79 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Norway · Boys
In 1998, Glen was ranked #558 and Liam #275 among boys in Norway.
Glen and Liam over time
Glen and Liam appear together in 3 published lists, across 98 years of shared records. Liam held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Glen in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Glen 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
Glen and Liam were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 57 years, from 1964 to 2025, ending at #676 and #7.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Glen #281 in 1996, Liam #10 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys57 shared years, 1964–2025
Glen held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Liam in 57.
Highest recorded here: Glen #83 in 1993, Liam #7 in 2019.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Glen #676, Liam #7.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Glen held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Liam in 29.
Highest recorded here: Glen #281 in 1996, Liam #10 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Glen #3688, Liam #70.
Northern Ireland · Boys12 shared years, 1997–2008
Glen held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Liam in 12.
Highest recorded here: Glen #129 in 1997, Liam #35 in 2008.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2008: Glen #378, Liam #35.
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 | Glen | 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 | 1 | 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 #676 (2025) | Norway · Boys #7 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 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)); Glen does not have one recorded yet.
- Glen and Liam both have 1 syllable.
- A meaning is recorded for Liam; Glen doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
Glen
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #92 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 recorded1963–1985
Highest recorded position: #29 among boys in New Zealand, in 1975 (recorded 1963–1985).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #676 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