Kennet vs Liam
Kennet 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 2004, Kennet was ranked #561 and Liam #155 among boys in Norway.
Kennet and Liam over time
Kennet and Liam appear together in 1 published list, across 11 years of shared records. Liam held the stronger position in more years in 1 of them, Kennet 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.
Kennet reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 1 of those lists, and Liam in none. 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
Norway · Boys11 shared years, 1990–2004
Kennet held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Liam in 7.
Highest recorded here: Kennet #355 in 1991, Liam #155 in 2004.
The order changed in 1998: Liam moved ahead. In 1997 they stood at #366 and #394; by 1998 that had become #567 and #275.
Most recent shared year, 2004: Kennet #561, Liam #155.
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 | Kennet | 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 | NO | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Boys #561 (2004) | 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) | 40/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Liam has a recorded origin (Irish, short form of William (via Uilliam)); Kennet does not have one recorded yet.
- Kennet has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Liam.
- A meaning is recorded for Liam; Kennet doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in NO.
How each name got here
Kennet
Popularity journey
First recorded1953
First recorded at #389 among boys in Norway in 1953 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1953–2004
Highest recorded position: #334 among boys in Norway, in 1970 (recorded 1953–2004).
Norway · Boys
Most recent2004
Most recently recorded at #561 among boys in Norway, in 2004.
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