Liam
Meaning: “Strong-willed protector (short form of William)”
About the name Liam
Liam is a boy name with Irish roots, meaning “Strong-willed protector (short form of William)”. It is related to William, which is where the meaning comes from.
It has a classic, modern, short & sweet feel. In 2025, Liam ranked #1 for boys in the US, with 20,818 babies given the name. Its peak year since 1940 was 2024. Since 2000, 100% of US babies named Liam were boys.
Etymology
Derived from William, which comes from Proto-Germanic, meaning “will” + “helmet”.
Name meaning adapted from Wiktionary (“Liam”, “William”) by Wiktionary contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- US rank 2025
- #1
- In 2015
- #2
- Babies in 2025
- 20,818
Popularity of Liam, 1940–2025
Latest SSA data: 2025.
Popularity data: U.S. Social Security Administration national baby names (public domain; names given to at least 5 babies of one sex per year).
Hello, world
Liam
Your last name
born on your big day
7 LB 4 OZ · 20 IN
The Baby Kit
See Liam on a birth announcement
Birth announcements, shower invitations, nursery wall art and milestone cards, all personalized with Liam. Type your details once and print at home or at any print shop.
Nicknames for Liam
Liam is already short and sweet, so it doesn't usually get a nickname.
Names similar to Liam
Name meanings marked or linked “Wiktionary” are adapted from Wiktionary by Wiktionary contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; each name page links its source entry.