Liam vs Niall
Liam and Niallcompared 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.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Liam was ranked #7 and Niall #244 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Liam was ranked #42 and Niall #144 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Liam was ranked #47 and Niall #246 among boys in Scotland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Liam was ranked #70 and Niall #613 among boys in England and Wales.
Liam and Niall over time
Liam and Niall appear together in 3 published lists, across 119 years of shared records. Liam held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Niall in 1.
The order between them changed and held in 2 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Niall reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 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.
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 2014, Liam moved ahead of Niall in Northern Ireland · Boys — #76 and #76 the year before became #59 and #65.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 28 shared years in Northern Ireland · Boys, Liam and Niall averaged 33.9 places apart, ending at #42 and #144.
- Longest-running competitions
Liam and Niall were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 62 years, from 1964 to 2025, ending at #7 and #244.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Liam #10 in 1996, Niall #106 in 1996.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1964 they stood at #54 and #47 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 7 places apart; by 2025 they were #7 and #244.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025
Liam held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Niall in 33.
Highest recorded here: Liam #6 in 2021, Niall #16 in 1991.
The order changed in 1997: Liam moved ahead. In 1996 they stood at #37 and #33; by 1997 that had become #28 and #35.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Liam #7, Niall #244.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Liam held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Niall in 0.
Highest recorded here: Liam #10 in 1996, Niall #106 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Liam #70, Niall #613.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Liam held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Niall in 10.
Highest recorded here: Liam #35 in 2008, Niall #26 in 1998.
The order changed in 2014: Liam moved ahead. In 2013 they stood at #76 and #76; by 2014 that had become #59 and #65.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Liam #42, Niall #144.
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 | Niall |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 1 |
| 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 |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Boys #7 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #244 (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)); Niall does not have one recorded yet.
- Liam and Niall both have 1 syllable.
- A meaning is recorded for Liam; Niall doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE.
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
Niall
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #47 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 recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #16 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1991 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #244 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys