Liam vs Linas
Liam and Linascompared 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 2018, Liam was ranked #7 and Linas #478 among boys in Norway.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2021, Liam was ranked #86 and Linas #3990 among boys in England and Wales.
Liam and Linas over time
Liam and Linas appear together in 1 published list, across 9 years of shared records. Liam held the stronger position in more years in 1 of them, Linas 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.
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 · Boys9 shared years, 1982–2018
Liam held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Linas in 3.
Highest recorded here: Liam #5 in 2013, Linas #440 in 2013.
The order changed in 1996: Liam moved ahead. In 1995 they stood at #622 and #538; by 1996 that had become #370 and #586.
Most recent shared year, 2018: Liam #7, Linas #478.
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 | Liam | Linas |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | A short form, inheriting its meaning from William — 'resolute protection' or 'will helmet'. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Irish, short form of William (via Uilliam) | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈliːəm/ | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 1 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | GB-ENW, NO |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Boys #7 (2025) | England and Wales · Boys #3990 (2021) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 60/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Liam has a recorded origin (Irish, short form of William (via Uilliam)); Linas does not have one recorded yet.
- Liam has 1 syllable, compared with 2 for Linas.
- A meaning is recorded for Liam; Linas doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, NO.
How each name got here
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
Linas
Popularity journey
First recorded1965
First recorded at #486 among boys in Norway in 1965 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1965–2018
Highest recorded position: #289 among boys in Norway, in 1972 (recorded 1965–2018).
Norway · Boys
Most recent2021
Most recently recorded at #3990 among boys in England and Wales, in 2021.
England and Wales · Boys