Namewise

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, 20052018

    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, 19872013

    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

Side-by-side comparison of Karolis, Liam
FieldKarolisLiam
Record typeOfficial statistical record (evidence-only)Editorially researched profile
Gender usagemalemale
MeaningNot yet recordedA short form, inheriting its meaning from William — 'resolute protection' or 'will helmet'.
OriginNot yet recordedIrish, short form of William (via Uilliam)
PronunciationNot yet recorded/ˈliːəm/
Syllables31
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageGB-ENW, IE, NOAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ
Most recent popularity observationEngland and Wales · Boys #4749 (2018)Norway · Boys #7 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)Not yet recorded90/100
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)82/10095/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediummedium

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

  1. 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

  2. Highest recorded1978–2013

    Highest recorded position: #257 among boys in Norway, in 1990 (recorded 1978–2013).

    Norway · Boys

  3. Most recent2018

    Most recently recorded at #4749 among boys in England and Wales, in 2018.

    England and Wales · Boys

Liam

Popularity journey

  1. 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

  2. Highest recorded1986–2023

    Highest recorded position: #1 among boys in New Zealand, in 2010 (recorded 1986–2023).

    New Zealand · Boys

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #15 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.

    New South Wales, Australia · Boys