Hussain vs Liam
Hussain 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.
Norway · Boys
In 2022, Hussain was ranked #476 and Liam #7 among boys in Norway.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Hussain was ranked #676 and Liam #7 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Hussain was ranked #432 and Liam #47 among boys in Scotland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Hussain was ranked #398 and Liam #70 among boys in England and Wales.
Hussain and Liam over time
Hussain and Liam appear together in 3 published lists, across 59 years of shared records. Liam held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Hussain in 0.
The order between them changed and held in one 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 2 of those lists, Hussain 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.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Hussain held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Liam in 29.
Highest recorded here: Hussain #365 in 2017, Liam #10 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Hussain #398, Liam #70.
Norway · Boys21 shared years, 1987–2022
Hussain held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Liam in 19.
Highest recorded here: Hussain #340 in 1995, Liam #3 in 2015.
The order changed in 1996: Liam moved ahead. In 1995 they stood at #340 and #456; by 1996 that had become #576 and #370.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Hussain #476, Liam #7.
Republic of Ireland · Boys9 shared years, 2008–2025
Hussain held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Liam in 9.
Highest recorded here: Hussain #509 in 2022, Liam #6 in 2021.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Hussain #676, Liam #7.
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 | Hussain | 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-SCT, IE, NO | 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) | 82/100 | 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)); Hussain does not have one recorded yet.
- Hussain has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Liam.
- A meaning is recorded for Liam; Hussain doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-SCT, IE, NO.
How each name got here
Hussain
Popularity journey
First recorded1966
First recorded at #528 among boys in Norway in 1966 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1966–2022
Highest recorded position: #340 among boys in Norway, in 1995 (recorded 1966–2022).
Norway · 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