Liam is a popular given name of Irish origin. It is derived from the Irish name "Úlliam" which means "devoted to God". The name Úlliam was originally used as a shortened form of the name "William", which itself comes from the Germanic elements "wil" meaning "will" or "desire", and "helm" meaning "helmet, protection".
The use of Liam as an independent given name is believed to have started in Ireland during the late 19th century. It gained popularity in the United Kingdom and other English-speaking countries throughout the 20th century. Today, Liam is a popular choice for baby boys around the world.
Some notable people with the name Liam include:
* Liam Neeson, an Irish actor known for his roles in films such as "Schindler's List", "Taken", and "Michael Collins".
* Liam Gallagher, an English singer-songwriter and former lead vocalist of the rock band Oasis.
* Liam Payne, an English singer-songwriter and member of the boy band One Direction.
Despite its popularity, Liam remains a name with strong Irish roots and a timeless meaning. Its short, simple pronunciation makes it easy to remember and pronounce in many languages. Additionally, Liam's association with notable figures in various fields adds to its appeal as a modern classic name choice.
The name Liam has seen a significant increase in popularity over the past few decades in the United States. From just 5 births recorded in 1947, its usage steadily grew, reaching double digits by 1950 and surpassing 20 births per year starting from 1956.
A notable spike occurred around the late 1980s to early 1990s, with over 200 births each year between 1989 and 1993. This trend continued into the new millennium, with over a thousand Liam births recorded annually from 2005 onwards.
The most recent data available shows that Liam was the second most popular boy's name in the U.S. in 2022, with 20802 births recorded. Since 1947, there have been a total of 315184 births registered for the name Liam in America.
This upward trend reflects a growing affection for this name among American parents, indicating that Liam has truly made its mark as a popular choice for baby boys in recent years.