Liam vs Marcus
Liam and Marcuscompared 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.
New Zealand · Boys
In 2014, Liam was ranked #5 and Marcus #90 among boys in New Zealand.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Liam was ranked #7 and Marcus #150 among boys in Norway.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Liam was ranked #7 and Marcus #232 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2024, Liam was ranked #15 and Marcus #93 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Liam was ranked #42 and Marcus #144 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Liam was ranked #47 and Marcus #176 among boys in Scotland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Liam was ranked #70 and Marcus #233 among boys in England and Wales.
Liam and Marcus over time
Liam and Marcus appear together in 6 published lists, across 190 years of shared records. Liam held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Marcus in 1.
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.
Marcus reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 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.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 2010, Liam moved ahead of Marcus in Norway · Boys — #50 and #35 the year before became #27 and #39.
- Mirrored each other
Over 62 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Boys, Liam rose about as far as Marcus fell — from #54 and #136 in 1964 to #7 and #232 in 2025.
- Longest-running competitions
Liam and Marcus were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 36 years, from 1982 to 2025, ending at #7 and #150.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in New Zealand · Boys within 2 years — Liam #1 in 2010, Marcus #78 in 2010.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025
Liam held the stronger position in 62 of those years, Marcus in 0.
Highest recorded here: Liam #6 in 2021, Marcus #99 in 1972.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Liam #7, Marcus #232.
Norway · Boys36 shared years, 1982–2025
Liam held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Marcus in 20.
Highest recorded here: Liam #3 in 2015, Marcus #24 in 2001.
The order changed in 2010: Liam moved ahead. In 2009 they stood at #50 and #35; by 2010 that had become #27 and #39.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Liam #7, Marcus #150.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Liam held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Marcus in 0.
Highest recorded here: Liam #10 in 1996, Marcus #83 in 2001.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Liam #70, Marcus #233.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Liam held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Marcus in 0.
Highest recorded here: Liam #35 in 2008, Marcus #100 in 2003.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Liam #42, Marcus #144.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys25 shared years, 1995–2024
Liam held the stronger position in 25 of those years, Marcus in 0.
Highest recorded here: Liam #6 in 2020, Marcus #49 in 2010.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Liam #15, Marcus #93.
New Zealand · Boys10 shared years, 1990–2014
Liam held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Marcus in 0.
Highest recorded here: Liam #1 in 2010, Marcus #78 in 2010.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2014: Liam #5, Marcus #90.
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 | Marcus |
|---|---|---|
| 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/ | |
| 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 | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Boys #7 (2025) | Norway · Boys #150 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 88/100 |
| 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)); Marcus does not have one recorded yet.
- Liam has 1 syllable, compared with 2 for Marcus.
- A meaning is recorded for Liam; Marcus doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.
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
Marcus
Popularity journey
First recorded1963
First recorded at #399 among boys in Norway in 1963 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1963–2025
Highest recorded position: #24 among boys in Norway, in 2001 (recorded 1963–2025).
Norway · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #150 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys