Liam vs Magnus
Liam and Magnuscompared 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, Liam was ranked #7 and Magnus #17 among boys in Norway.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2019, Liam was ranked #7 and Magnus #764 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Liam was ranked #47 and Magnus #130 among boys in Scotland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2023, Liam was ranked #52 and Magnus #312 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Liam was ranked #70 and Magnus #358 among boys in England and Wales.
Liam and Magnus over time
Liam and Magnus appear together in 2 published lists, across 65 years of shared records. Neither was ahead in more lists than the other.
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.
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 2020, Liam moved ahead of Magnus in Norway · Boys — #8 and #7 the year before became #5 and #8.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Liam and Magnus changed places 5 times in Norway · Boys between 1982 and 2025, ending at #7 and #17.
- Longest-running competitions
Liam and Magnus were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 36 years, from 1982 to 2025, ending at #7 and #17.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Norway · Boys within 2 years — Liam #3 in 2015, Magnus #3 in 2013.
List by list
Norway · Boys36 shared years, 1982–2025
Liam held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Magnus in 27.
Highest recorded here: Liam #3 in 2015, Magnus #3 in 2013.
The order changed in 2020: Liam moved ahead. In 2019 they stood at #8 and #7; by 2020 that had become #5 and #8.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Liam #7, Magnus #17.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Liam held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Magnus in 0.
Highest recorded here: Liam #10 in 1996, Magnus #335 in 2022.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Liam #70, Magnus #358.
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 | Magnus |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | A short form, inheriting its meaning from William — 'resolute protection' or 'will helmet'. | Directly 'great' or 'mighty' in Latin. |
| Origin | Irish, short form of William (via Uilliam) | Latin |
| Pronunciation | /ˈliːəm/ | /ˈmæɡnəs/ |
| Syllables | 1 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Mags |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Boys #7 (2025) | Norway #12 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | high |
What the data shows
- Liam is recorded with a Irish, short form of William (via Uilliam) origin, while Magnus is recorded with a Latin origin.
- Liam has 1 syllable, compared with 2 for Magnus.
- Liam's recorded meaning differs from Magnus's — see the table above for each.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO.
- The available evidence gives Liam a "medium" Data Confidence level and Magnus a "high" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
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
Magnus
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #125 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1945–2025
Highest recorded position: #3 among boys in Norway, in 2013 (recorded 1945–2025).
Norway · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #12 in Norway, in 2025.
Norway