Liam vs Taylor
Liam and Taylorcompared 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 2010, Liam was ranked #1 and Taylor #88 among boys in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Liam was ranked #7 and Taylor #829 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Liam was ranked #47 and Taylor #227 among boys in Scotland.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1993, Liam was ranked #48 and Taylor #92 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2022, Liam was ranked #62 and Taylor #352 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Liam was ranked #70 and Taylor #385 among boys in England and Wales.
Liam and Taylor over time
Liam and Taylor appear together in 4 published lists, across 99 years of shared records. Liam held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Taylor in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Taylor 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.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Liam held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Taylor in 0.
Highest recorded here: Liam #10 in 1996, Taylor #65 in 2001.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Liam #70, Taylor #385.
Republic of Ireland · Boys29 shared years, 1992–2025
Liam held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Taylor in 0.
Highest recorded here: Liam #7 in 2020, Taylor #160 in 2007.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Liam #7, Taylor #829.
Northern Ireland · Boys25 shared years, 1997–2022
Liam held the stronger position in 25 of those years, Taylor in 0.
Highest recorded here: Liam #35 in 2008, Taylor #73 in 2003.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Liam #62, Taylor #352.
New Zealand · Boys16 shared years, 1992–2010
Liam held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Taylor in 0.
Highest recorded here: Liam #1 in 2010, Taylor #43 in 1995.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2010: Liam #1, Taylor #88.
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 | Taylor |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | Used for both boys and girls |
| 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 | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Boys #7 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #443 (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)); Taylor does not have one recorded yet.
- Liam has 1 syllable, compared with 2 for Taylor.
- A meaning is recorded for Liam; Taylor doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, 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
Taylor
Popularity journey
First recorded1991
First recorded at #91 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1991 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Highest recorded1992–2010
Highest recorded position: #19 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1996 (recorded 1992–2010).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #443 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls