Karolis vs Liam
Karolis 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 2013, Karolis was ranked #536 and Liam #5 among boys in Norway.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2016, Karolis was ranked #601 and Liam #14 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2018, Karolis was ranked #4749 and Liam #85 among boys in England and Wales.
Karolis and Liam over time
Karolis and Liam appear together in 2 published lists, across 22 years of shared records. Liam held the stronger position in more years in 1 of them, Karolis 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 1 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.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys12 shared years, 2005–2018
Karolis held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Liam in 12.
Highest recorded here: Karolis #2027 in 2016, Liam #22 in 2008.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2018: Karolis #4749, Liam #85.
Norway · Boys10 shared years, 1987–2013
Karolis held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Liam in 5.
Highest recorded here: Karolis #257 in 1990, Liam #5 in 2013.
The order changed in 1997: Liam moved ahead. In 1996 they stood at #365 and #370; by 1997 that had become #571 and #394.
Most recent shared year, 2013: Karolis #536, Liam #5.
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 | Karolis | 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 | 3 | 1 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, IE, NO | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Boys #4749 (2018) | 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)); Karolis does not have one recorded yet.
- Karolis has 3 syllables, compared with 1 for Liam.
- A meaning is recorded for Liam; Karolis doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, IE, NO.
How each name got here
Karolis
Popularity journey
First recorded1978
First recorded at #620 among boys in Norway in 1978 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1978–2013
Highest recorded position: #257 among boys in Norway, in 1990 (recorded 1978–2013).
Norway · Boys
Most recent2018
Most recently recorded at #4749 among boys in England and Wales, in 2018.
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 #15 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys