Liam vs Marco
Liam and Marcocompared 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 2024, Liam was ranked #5 and Marco #451 among boys in Norway.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Liam was ranked #7 and Marco #432 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Liam was ranked #42 and Marco #404 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Liam was ranked #47 and Marco #432 among boys in Scotland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Liam was ranked #70 and Marco #567 among boys in England and Wales.
Liam and Marco over time
Liam and Marco appear together in 4 published lists, across 113 years of shared records. Liam held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Marco 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.
Marco reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Liam in 1. 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.
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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Liam and Marco changed places 7 times in Norway · Boys between 1982 and 2024, ending at #5 and #451.
- Mirrored each other
Over 39 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Boys, Liam rose about as far as Marco fell — from #54 and #214 in 1964 to #7 and #432 in 2025.
- Longest-running competitions
Liam and Marco were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 35 years, from 1982 to 2024, ending at #5 and #451.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys39 shared years, 1964–2025
Liam held the stronger position in 39 of those years, Marco in 0.
Highest recorded here: Liam #6 in 2021, Marco #214 in 1964.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Liam #7, Marco #432.
Norway · Boys35 shared years, 1982–2024
Liam held the stronger position in 26 of those years, Marco in 9.
Highest recorded here: Liam #3 in 2015, Marco #234 in 2004.
The order changed in 2002: Liam moved ahead. In 2001 they stood at #345 and #236; by 2002 that had become #236 and #258.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Liam #5, Marco #451.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Liam held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Marco in 0.
Highest recorded here: Liam #10 in 1996, Marco #303 in 1999.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Liam #70, Marco #567.
Northern Ireland · Boys10 shared years, 1997–2024
Liam held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Marco in 0.
Highest recorded here: Liam #35 in 2008, Marco #271 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Liam #42, Marco #404.
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 | Marco |
|---|---|---|
| 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, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Boys #7 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #432 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 94/100 |
| 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)); Marco does not have one recorded yet.
- Liam has 1 syllable, compared with 2 for Marco.
- A meaning is recorded for Liam; Marco doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, 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
Marco
Popularity journey
First recorded1961
First recorded at #478 among boys in Norway in 1961 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #214 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1964 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #432 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys