Liam
Liam was the number 70 most popular boys' name in England and Wales in 2024, given to 749 babies that year, according to the Office for National Statistics. It moved up 1 place from rank 71 in 2023. As general background, Liam is usually said to be of Irish origin, meaning a short form of William, resolute protector. The popularity figures are the real ONS count and rank; the meaning is widely attested etymology, not a claim about any individual.
Liam in the ONS data
| ONS rank (2024, England and Wales) | 70 of the boys' names |
| Babies given this name (2024) | 749 |
| Registered as a | boy's name |
| Change since 2023 | up 1 place from rank 71 in 2023 |
Source: ONS Baby names in England and Wales, 2024 edition, released 2025-07-31. Accessed 2026-06-14. The rank and count are the real ONS figures for England and Wales. Refreshed each year on the ONS release.
What Liam means
Liam is usually described as a name of Irish origin, meaning a short form of William, resolute protector. This is general etymological background drawn from established naming reference works. It describes the name's history and is not a claim about any individual who carries it.
Meanings and origins are general background, not ONS data and not advice.
Liam also appears in these lists
Liam appears in these baby name themes on BabyData, each built from the official ONS 2024 rankings.
Names like Liam
Other names from the ONS 2024 rankings that share a theme with Liam.
Nearby in the boys' ranking
- 69. Zachary
- 70. Liam
- 71. Jasper
Editor, BabyData
Oliver Mackman is the named editor of BabyData and a director of Best Business Loans Ltd (Companies House 16833937), the company that operates the site. He is accountable for its editorial standards, sourcing and corrections, and requires every number to cite the underlying rule and the official UK dataset behind it, with pregnancy tools reviewed against NHS and gov.uk guidance before publication.
Last reviewed: 12 June 2026