Hudson vs Liam
Hudson 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, Hudson was ranked #188 and Liam #7 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2025, Hudson was ranked #8 and Liam #15 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 2023, Hudson was ranked #10 and Liam #17 among boys in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Hudson was ranked #99 and Liam #42 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2025, Hudson was ranked #43 and Liam #68 among boys in England and Wales.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Hudson was ranked #54 and Liam #47 among boys in Scotland.
Hudson and Liam over time
Hudson and Liam appear together in 5 published lists, across 79 years of shared records. Liam held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Hudson in 0.
The order between them changed and held in 3 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Liam reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, Hudson in 1. 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 2020, Hudson moved ahead of Liam in England and Wales · Boys — #92 and #74 the year before became #69 and #79.
- Longest-running competitions
Hudson and Liam were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #43 and #68.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Northern Ireland · Boys within 2 years — Hudson #76 in 2023, Liam #42 in 2024.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025
Hudson held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Liam in 24.
Highest recorded here: Hudson #42 in 2024, Liam #10 in 1996.
The order changed in 2020: Hudson moved ahead. In 2019 they stood at #92 and #74; by 2020 that had become #69 and #79.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Hudson #43, Liam #68.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys14 shared years, 2012–2025
Hudson held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Liam in 10.
Highest recorded here: Hudson #7 in 2023, Liam #6 in 2020.
The order changed in 2022: Hudson moved ahead. In 2021 they stood at #15 and #10; by 2022 that had become #11 and #15.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Hudson #8, Liam #15.
Republic of Ireland · Boys13 shared years, 2012–2025
Hudson held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Liam in 13.
Highest recorded here: Hudson #143 in 2023, Liam #6 in 2021.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Hudson #188, Liam #7.
Northern Ireland · Boys12 shared years, 2013–2024
Hudson held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Liam in 12.
Highest recorded here: Hudson #76 in 2023, Liam #42 in 2024.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Hudson #99, Liam #42.
New Zealand · Boys10 shared years, 2014–2023
Hudson held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Liam in 8.
Highest recorded here: Hudson #9 in 2022, Liam #5 in 2014.
The order changed in 2022: Hudson moved ahead. In 2021 they stood at #16 and #12; by 2022 that had become #9 and #21.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Hudson #10, Liam #17.
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 Hudson
Pairs where Hudson shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Muhammad vs Hudson
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Muhammad #1 in 2023, Hudson #42 in 2024.
Muhammad · Hudson · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Peaked in the same years
- Noah vs Hudson
Both reached their highest recorded position in New South Wales, Australia · Boys within 2 years — Noah #1 in 2022, Hudson #7 in 2023.
Noah · Hudson · 14 shared years, 2012–2025 · Peaked in the same years
- Theodore vs Hudson
Theodore and Hudson averaged 6.5 places apart in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, and 640 places apart in England and Wales · Boys.
Theodore · Hudson · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Close in one country, far apart in another
- Thomas vs Hudson
In 2023, Hudson moved ahead of Thomas in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #9 and #11 the year before became #13 and #7.
Thomas · Hudson · 14 shared years, 2012–2025 · One moved ahead of the other
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
- 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
- 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
- Liam vs Jonathan
Over 62 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Boys, Liam rose about as far as Jonathan fell — from #54 and #125 in 1964 to #7 and #223 in 2025.
Liam · Jonathan · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · Mirrored each other
Other pairs with the same kind of relationship
Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — close in one country, far apart in another.
- Ivy vs Evie
Ivy and Evie averaged 4.8 places apart in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, and 408 places apart in England and Wales · Girls.
Ivy · Evie · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Close in one country, far apart in another
- Ella vs Harper
Ella and Harper averaged 6.0 places apart in New Zealand · Girls, and 944 places apart in England and Wales · Girls.
Ella · Harper · 24 shared years, 2001–2025 · Close in one country, far apart in another
- Mia vs Harper
Mia and Harper averaged 6.3 places apart in New Zealand · Girls, and 945 places apart in England and Wales · Girls.
Mia · Harper · 24 shared years, 2001–2025 · Close in one country, far apart in another
- Ivy vs Hazel
Ivy and Hazel averaged 6.4 places apart in New Zealand · Girls, and 354 places apart in England and Wales · Girls.
Ivy · Hazel · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Close in one country, far apart in another
Other pairs ranked together in the 2020s
Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2020 and 2029.
- Grace vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #41 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2025 they were #27 and #4867.
Grace · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Ella vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #56 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #46 and #4867.
Ella · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Jasmine vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #55 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2025 they were #102 and #4867.
Jasmine · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Anna vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #47 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2025 they were #142 and #4867.
Anna · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Hudson | Liam |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | 'Son of Hudde', an English surname associated with explorer Henry Hudson. | A short form, inheriting its meaning from William — 'resolute protection' or 'will helmet'. |
| Origin | English (patronymic surname) | Irish, short form of William (via Uilliam) |
| Pronunciation | /ˈhʌd.sən/ | /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, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #8 (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
- Hudson is recorded with a English (patronymic surname) origin, while Liam is recorded with a Irish, short form of William (via Uilliam) origin.
- Hudson has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Liam.
- Hudson'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, NZ.
How each name got here
Hudson
Popularity journey
First recorded1996
First recorded at #2863 among boys in England and Wales in 1996 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
England and Wales · Boys
Highest recorded2012–2025
Highest recorded position: #7 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2023 (recorded 2012–2025).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #43 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
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 #68 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys