Liam vs Oisín
Liam and Oisíncompared 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 Oisín #5 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Liam and Oisín over time
Liam and Oisín appear together in 1 published list, across 8 years of shared records. Liam held the stronger position in more years in 1 of them, Oisín in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Liam reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 1 of those lists, and Oisín 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.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys8 shared years, 2018–2025
Liam held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Oisín in 3.
Highest recorded here: Liam #6 in 2021, Oisín #5 in 2023.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Liam #7, Oisín #5.
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.
Where to go next
Comparisons that share a name, a rule or a published list with this one. Each is an existing comparison page with its own evidence — nothing here says these pairs are alike.
Other comparisons involving Liam
Pairs where Liam shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Liam vs Ciaran
In 1964 they stood at #54 and #49 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 5 places apart; by 2025 they were #7 and #372.
Liam · Ciaran · 61 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Liam vs Darren
In 1997 they stood at #48 and #52 in Northern Ireland · Boys, 4 places apart; by 2024 they were #42 and #404.
Liam · Darren · 24 shared years, 1997–2024 · Started together, ended far apart
- Liam vs Dean
In 1997 they stood at #48 and #45 in Northern Ireland · Boys, 3 places apart; by 2023 they were #52 and #348.
Liam · Dean · 24 shared years, 1997–2023 · Started together, ended far apart
- Liam vs Gary
In 1997 they stood at #48 and #57 in Northern Ireland · Boys, 9 places apart; by 2022 they were #62 and #352.
Liam · Gary · 20 shared years, 1997–2022 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Liam | Oisín |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Boys #7 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #5 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 40/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Liam has a recorded origin (Irish, short form of William (via Uilliam)); Oisín does not have one recorded yet.
- Liam and Oisín both have 1 syllable.
- A meaning is recorded for Liam; Oisín doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in 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
Oisín
Popularity journey
First recorded2018
First recorded at #15 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 2018 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded2018–2025
Highest recorded position: #5 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2023 (recorded 2018–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #5 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys