Igor vs Liam
Igor 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, Igor was ranked #829 and Liam #7 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Norway · Boys
In 2023, Igor was ranked #461 and Liam #8 among boys in Norway.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2018, Igor was ranked #365 and Liam #56 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2025, Igor was ranked #1613 and Liam #68 among boys in England and Wales.
Igor and Liam over time
Igor and Liam appear together in 4 published lists, across 86 years of shared records. Liam held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Igor 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.
Each reached its own highest recorded position first in 2 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 31 shared years in Norway · Boys, Liam rose about as far as Igor fell — from #286 and #586 in 1982 to #461 and #8 in 2023.
- Longest-running competitions
Igor and Liam were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 31 years, from 1982 to 2023, ending at #461 and #8.
List by list
Norway · Boys31 shared years, 1982–2023
Igor held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Liam in 24.
Highest recorded here: Igor #286 in 1982, Liam #3 in 2015.
The order changed in 2000: Liam moved ahead. In 1999 they stood at #334 and #340; by 2000 that had become #548 and #235.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Igor #461, Liam #8.
England and Wales · Boys27 shared years, 1996–2025
Igor held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Liam in 27.
Highest recorded here: Igor #397 in 2014, Liam #10 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Igor #1613, Liam #68.
Republic of Ireland · Boys19 shared years, 2006–2025
Igor held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Liam in 19.
Highest recorded here: Igor #170 in 2011, Liam #6 in 2021.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Igor #829, Liam #7.
Northern Ireland · Boys9 shared years, 2007–2018
Igor held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Liam in 9.
Highest recorded here: Igor #244 in 2013, Liam #37 in 2009.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2018: Igor #365, Liam #56.
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 | Igor | 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, IE, NO | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #829 (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)); Igor does not have one recorded yet.
- Igor has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Liam.
- A meaning is recorded for Liam; Igor doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO.
How each name got here
Igor
Popularity journey
First recorded1958
First recorded at #421 among boys in Norway in 1958 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded2006–2025
Highest recorded position: #170 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2011 (recorded 2006–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #1613 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