Liam vs Robert
Liam and Robertcompared 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 2012, Liam was ranked #4 and Robert #80 among boys in New Zealand.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Liam was ranked #7 and Robert #363 among boys in Norway.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Liam was ranked #7 and Robert #104 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2003, Liam was ranked #14 and Robert #95 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Liam was ranked #42 and Robert #93 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Liam was ranked #47 and Robert #80 among boys in Scotland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Liam was ranked #70 and Robert #151 among boys in England and Wales.
Liam and Robert over time
Liam and Robert appear together in 6 published lists, across 202 years of shared records. Liam held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Robert in 2.
The order between them changed and held in 5 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Robert reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 5 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 took the other's place near the top
In Northern Ireland · Boys, Liam moved into the top 50 at #35 in 2008 as Robert fell out of it to #71, having been #42 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1994, Liam moved ahead of Robert in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #48 and #34 the year before became #39 and #43.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Liam and Robert changed places 9 times in Northern Ireland · Boys between 1997 and 2024, ending at #42 and #93.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 29 shared years in England and Wales · Boys, Liam and Robert averaged 39.7 places apart, ending at #70 and #151.
- Longest-running competitions
Liam and Robert were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 36 years, from 1982 to 2025, ending at #7 and #363.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Liam #10 in 1996, Robert #30 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025
Liam held the stronger position in 27 of those years, Robert in 35.
Highest recorded here: Liam #6 in 2021, Robert #12 in 1978.
The order changed in 1999: Liam moved ahead. In 1998 they stood at #30 and #27; by 1999 that had become #21 and #27.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Liam #7, Robert #104.
Norway · Boys36 shared years, 1982–2025
Liam held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Robert in 13.
Highest recorded here: Liam #3 in 2015, Robert #35 in 1982.
The order changed in 2003: Liam moved ahead. In 2002 they stood at #236 and #155; by 2003 that had become #198 and #220.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Liam #7, Robert #363.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Liam held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Robert in 0.
Highest recorded here: Liam #10 in 1996, Robert #30 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Liam #70, Robert #151.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Liam held the stronger position in 21 of those years, Robert in 7.
Highest recorded here: Liam #35 in 2008, Robert #35 in 1997.
The order changed in 2008: Liam moved ahead. In 2007 they stood at #59 and #42; by 2008 that had become #35 and #71.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Liam #42, Robert #93.
New Zealand · Boys26 shared years, 1986–2012
Liam held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Robert in 7.
Highest recorded here: Liam #1 in 2010, Robert #15 in 1989.
The order changed in 1993: Liam moved ahead. In 1992 they stood at #39 and #28; by 1993 that had become #35 and #36.
Most recent shared year, 2012: Liam #4, Robert #80.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys21 shared years, 1983–2003
Liam held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Robert in 11.
Highest recorded here: Liam #10 in 1997, Robert #16 in 1983.
The order changed in 1994: Liam moved ahead. In 1993 they stood at #48 and #34; by 1994 that had become #39 and #43.
Most recent shared year, 2003: Liam #14, Robert #95.
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 | Robert |
|---|---|---|
| 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'. | From Germanic Hrodebert, combining 'hruod' (fame) with 'beraht' (bright) — 'bright fame'. Introduced to Britain by the Normans, later borne by Robert the Bruce. |
| Origin | Irish, short form of William (via Uilliam) | Germanic |
| Pronunciation | /ˈliːəm/ | /ˈɹɑb.əɹt/ |
| 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) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #104 (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 | medium |
What the data shows
- Liam is recorded with a Irish, short form of William (via Uilliam) origin, while Robert is recorded with a Germanic origin.
- Liam has 1 syllable, compared with 2 for Robert.
- Liam's recorded meaning differs from Robert's — see the table above for each.
- 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
Robert
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #126 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1952–2003
Highest recorded position: #3 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1952 (recorded 1952–2003).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #363 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys