Pronunciation |
|
---|---|
Gender | Masculine |
Origin | |
Derivation | Short form of William (Irish: Uilliam) |
Region of origin | Ireland |
Other names | |
Related names | |
Popularity | see popular names |
Liam is a short form of the Irish name Uilliam or the old Germanic name William.
The original name was a merging of two Old German elements: willa [1] ("will" or "resolution"); and helma ("helmet"). The juxtaposition of these elements effectively means "helmet of will" or "guardian". [2]
When the Frankish Empire was divided, the name developed differently in each region. In Northern Francia, Willahelm developed first into "Willelm" and then into "Willaume" in Norman and Picard, and "Guillaume" in Ile-de-France French. The Norman form was further developed by the English into the familiar modern form "William". [3]
Although the names Willahelm and Guillaume were well known in England before 1066, through Saxon dealings with Guillaume, Duc de Normandie, it was viewed as a "foreign" name. The Norman Conquest had a dramatic effect on English names. Many if not most Saxon names, such as Ethelred, died out under the massive influx of French ones. Since the Royal Court now rang with names such as Alain, Guy, Reginald and William, [4] they were quickly adopted by the English, the Welsh, and eventually the Irish.[ citation needed ]
Within a generation, the "new" names had become so completely assimilated that they were regarded as homegrown, and variant forms evolved and thrived alongside one another. In Wales, both William and Gwilym became popular, as did the short forms Wil and Gwil, and almost every village had its own Gwilym Williams (the final "s" represented "son of" or "descendant of"). The Norman conquest of Ireland followed a similar pattern to that of England a century earlier. Within a generation, the Irish Uilliam was found alongside William, and the short form of both was Liam. [5]
Until the end of the 18th century, Liam was virtually unknown outside Ireland. In the mid-1850s, over a million and a half people left Ireland to escape the catastrophic great famine and, from then on, Irish names were heard everywhere. Liam as an independent name in England and Wales dates from 1932, but it was mainly confined to the families of Irish descent. By 1955, it was recorded for two boys in every 10,000, a figure it maintained until 1975, when it rose to four per 10,000.[ citation needed ]
By 1980, it was clear that Liam was becoming a vogue name in the general population in the United Kingdom and that year it was recorded for 12 boys per 10,000. It continued to gain ground. In 1985, it stood at 20 per 10,000, and by 1990, it was recorded for 100 boys in every 10,000. In 1996, Liam peaked in popularity as the 10th most popular baby name for boys in England and Wales, according to the UK Office for National Statistics. [6]
Liam continued to remain in the top 33 most popular boys names in the UK throughout the first decade of the 21st century but started to steadily decline in 2009.
Meanwhile, according to the Social Security Administration, Liam had been steadily gaining in popularity in the United States and entered the top 50 names for the first time in 2009 at number 49. As Liam gained popularity in the US, climbing to number two by 2013, popularity in the UK plummeted, and it ranked 67th that same year. [7] [8] Liam was among the five most popular names for Hispanic newborn boys and newborn boys of Asian descent in the American state of Virginia in 2022. [9] In Canada, Liam was the most popular boys name from 2012 to 2020. [10]
Year | Rank in the US [7] | Rank in the UK [8] [11] | Rank in Canada [10] |
---|---|---|---|
1994 | 360 | 17 | 104 |
1995 | 240 | Not available | 58 |
1996 | 184 | 10 | 46 |
1997 | 162 | 15 | 37 |
1998 | 155 | 24 | 35 |
1999 | 141 | 17 | 28 |
2000 | 140 | 19 | 31 |
2001 | 131 | 24 | 24 |
2002 | 113 | 23 | 24 |
2003 | 114 | 29 | 19 |
2004 | 112 | 30 | 19 |
2005 | 104 | 28 | 13 |
2006 | 98 | 32 | 16 |
2007 | 89 | 27 | 16 |
2008 | 75 | 22 | 10 |
2009 | 49 | 24 | 4 |
2010 | 30 | 33 | 3 |
2011 | 15 | 44 | 3 |
2012 | 6 | 50 | 1 |
2013 | 3 [12] | 67 | 1 |
2014 | 2 [12] | 76 | 1 |
2015 | 2 [12] | 81 | 1 |
2016 | 2 [12] | 97 | 1 |
2017 | 1 [12] | 91 | 1 |
2018 | 1 [12] | 85 | 1 |
2019 | 1 [12] | 1 | |
2020 | 1 [12] | 1 | |
2021 | 1 [12] | 2 | |
2022 | 1 [12] | 2 |
The name is also popular worldwide for boys in Argentina, Belgium, Ireland, Netherlands, Norway, Quebec, Canada, Sweden, and Switzerland. [13]
Maeve, Maev or Maiv is a female given name of Irish origin. It comes from the Irish name Méabh, which was spelt Meadhbh in Early Modern Irish, Meḋḃ or Meaḋḃ in Middle Irish, and Medb in Old Irish. It may derive from a word meaning "she who intoxicates", "mead-woman", or alternatively "she who rules". Medb is a queen in Irish mythology who is thought to have originally been a sovereignty goddess.
Stephen or Steven is a common English first name. It is particularly significant to Christians, as it belonged to Saint Stephen, an early disciple and deacon who, according to the Book of Acts, was stoned to death; he is widely regarded as the first martyr of the Christian Church.
William is a masculine given name of French origin. It became very popular in the English language after the Norman conquest of England in 1066, and remained so throughout the Middle Ages and into the modern era. It is sometimes abbreviated "Wm." Shortened familiar versions in English include Will, Wills, Willy, Willie, Liam, Bill, and Billy. A common Irish form is Liam. Scottish diminutives include Wull, Willie or Wullie. Female forms are Willa, Willemina, Wilma and Wilhelmina.
Nigel is an English masculine given name.
Lilibet or Lillibet is a feminine given name of English or Welsh origin. It is often a nickname for the given name Elizabeth. It was the childhood nickname of Queen Elizabeth II, who called herself Lilibet when she was a toddler because she had difficulty pronouncing her full name. Her great-granddaughter Princess Lilibet of Sussex was named in her honour. The name has also been spelled Lilybet in some sources.
David is a common masculine given name of Hebrew origin. Its popularity derives from the initial oral tradition and recorded use related to King David, a central figure in the Torah and foundational to Judaism, and subsequently significant in the religious traditions of Christianity and Islam.
Florence is usually a feminine given name. It is derived from the French version of (Saint) Florentia, a Roman martyr under Diocletian. The Latin florens, florentius means "blossoming", verb floreo, meaning "I blossom / I flower / I flourish". Florence was in the past also used as a translation of the Latin version Florentius, and may be used in this context as a masculine given name.
Ryan is an English-language given name of Irish origin. Traditionally a male name, it has been used increasingly for both boys and girls since the 1970s. It comes from the Irish surname Ryan, which in turn comes from the Old Irish name Rían. Popular modern sources typically suggest that the name means Champion and the "Little king", but the original meaning is unknown. According to John Ryan, Professor of Early and Medieval History at University College Dublin, "Rian, like Niall, seems to be so ancient that its meaning was lost before records began."
English names are personal names used in, or originating in, England. In England, as elsewhere in the English-speaking world, a complete name usually consists of one or more given names, commonly referred to as first names, and a family name or surname, also referred to as a last name. The given names after the first are often referred to as middle names.
Andrew is the English form of the given name, common in many countries. The word is derived from the Greek: Ἀνδρέας, Andreas, itself related to Ancient Greek: ἀνήρ/ἀνδρός aner/andros, "man", thus meaning "manly" and, as consequence, "brave", "strong", "courageous", and "warrior". In the King James Bible, the Greek "Ἀνδρέας" is translated as Andrew.
Brenda is a feminine given name in the English language.
Randall is a masculine given name in English, Irish and German. Its modern use as a given name originates from the transferred use of the English–language surname Randall, which in turn is derived from Randolph.
Sean, also spelled Seán or Séan in Hiberno-English, is a male given name of Irish origin. It comes from the Irish versions of the Biblical Hebrew name Yohanan, Seán and Séan, rendered John in English and Johannes/Johann/Johan in other Germanic languages. The Norman French Jehan is another version.
Willow is a given name used in reference to the willow. It has grown in popularity in English speaking countries along with other names inspired by the natural world. It first entered the top 1,000 names given to American newborn girls in 2000 and was ranked in 37th position for American baby girls in 2022. It was among the top 10 most popular names for girls born in Wales in 2020. It was also among the top 10 names for girls born in New Zealand in 2020.
Winter is a modern given name of English origin given in reference to the season.
Ember is a modern English name taken from the vocabulary word meaning “lump of hot coal.”
Lyra is a feminine given name of Greek and Latin origin meaning lyre. It is usually given in reference to the constellation and the Greek myth that inspired its naming. The name has associations with music and harmony and the night sky. The name has recently increased in usage due to a character in His Dark Materials, a book trilogy by Philip Pullman, and the television show and film adapted from the books.
Leia is a variant of the Hebrew Leah, meaning languid in several languages, including Koine Greek and Portuguese. It is commonly used in reference to Leia Organa, a character from the Star Wars franchise that first appeared in the film Star Wars: A New Hope (1977). In the film, Leia is a princess from the fictional planet Alderaan. She marries Han Solo, and becomes the mother of Kylo Ren.
Primrose is an English feminine given name given in reference to the flower. The common name for the flower comes from the Latin phrase prima rosa, or first rose. It is also an English or Scottish surname. As a given name, it was occasionally used as a transferred use of the surname for both boys and girls. It came into vogue in the Victorian era and first part of the 20th century, especially in the United Kingdom, along with other plant and flower names for girls. More attention has been given to the name in the Anglosphere due to a character in The Hunger Games books by Suzanne Collins and the movies based on the books.