Julian vs Liam
Julian 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 2025, Julian was ranked #54 and Liam #7 among boys in Norway.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Julian was ranked #348 and Liam #7 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2024, Julian was ranked #87 and Liam #15 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Julian was ranked #234 and Liam #47 among boys in Scotland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2023, Julian was ranked #348 and Liam #52 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Julian was ranked #280 and Liam #70 among boys in England and Wales.
Julian and Liam over time
Julian and Liam appear together in 3 published lists, across 124 years of shared records. Liam held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Julian in 1.
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.
Julian reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, Liam 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 2010, Liam moved ahead of Julian in Norway · Boys — #41 and #50 the year before became #28 and #27.
- Mirrored each other
Over 59 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Boys, Liam rose about as far as Julian fell — from #191 and #54 in 1964 to #348 and #7 in 2025.
- Longest-running competitions
Julian and Liam were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 36 years, from 1982 to 2025, ending at #54 and #7.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys59 shared years, 1964–2025
Julian held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Liam in 59.
Highest recorded here: Julian #129 in 1970, Liam #6 in 2021.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Julian #348, Liam #7.
Norway · Boys36 shared years, 1982–2025
Julian held the stronger position in 20 of those years, Liam in 16.
Highest recorded here: Julian #26 in 2011, Liam #3 in 2015.
The order changed in 2010: Liam moved ahead. In 2009 they stood at #41 and #50; by 2010 that had become #28 and #27.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Julian #54, Liam #7.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Julian held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Liam in 29.
Highest recorded here: Julian #267 in 2022, Liam #10 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Julian #280, Liam #70.
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 | Julian | 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, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Boys #54 (2025) | 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)); Julian does not have one recorded yet.
- Julian has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Liam.
- A meaning is recorded for Liam; Julian 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
Julian
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #191 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 recorded1967–2025
Highest recorded position: #26 among boys in Norway, in 2011 (recorded 1967–2025).
Norway · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #54 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · 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