UK boy's name
Liem
A Vietnamese masculine name meaning "virtuous" or "upright.".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2005. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Liem is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Liem popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2005 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3849, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1997, with 4 births.
This profile covers 7 England and Wales registrations across 2 recorded years from 1997 to 2005. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
The latest count is about 75% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 7 living people in the UK are called Liem. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2006 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Liem ranked #3849 for boys in England and Wales in 2005, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 1997, when 4 boys were registered as Liem.
- • About 7 living people in the UK are estimated to have Liem as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#3849
2005
Births in 2005
3
Latest year
Peak year
1997
4 births
Estimated living
7
2026
Meaning
What does Liem mean?
The name Liem has its origins in the Vietnamese language. It is a unisex name that can be used for both males and females. The name is derived from the Vietnamese word "liem," which means "integrity" or "honesty."
In Vietnamese culture, the name Liem is often associated with virtues such as honesty, uprightness, and moral principles. It is a name that carries a sense of respect and admiration for those who possess these qualities.
The earliest recorded instances of the name Liem can be traced back to ancient Vietnamese texts and historical records. It is believed to have been in use for several centuries, although the exact time period is difficult to pinpoint due to the limited documentation available.
One of the most notable historical figures with the name Liem is Liem Tuan, a Vietnamese general and military strategist who lived during the 13th century. He is renowned for his contributions to the defense of Vietnam against the Mongol invasions led by Kublai Khan.
Another prominent individual with the name Liem is Liem Quat, a Vietnamese poet and scholar who lived during the 17th century. He is known for his works that celebrated the beauty of nature and the simple joys of life.
In more recent history, Liem Sioe Liong was a prominent Indonesian businessman and philanthropist who lived from 1916 to 2012. He was a significant contributor to the development of education and healthcare facilities in Indonesia.
Liem Viet Khiem was a Vietnamese revolutionary and communist leader who played a crucial role in the struggle for independence from French colonial rule. He lived from 1914 to 1997 and was a highly respected figure in Vietnamese history.
Liem Sioe Sing, born in 1908 and died in 1985, was an Indonesian banker and entrepreneur who founded the Bank Central Asia (BCA), one of the largest banks in Indonesia.
The name Liem has maintained its significance and popularity throughout the centuries, particularly in Vietnamese and Southeast Asian communities. It continues to be a name that represents integrity, honesty, and moral uprightness, making it a respected and admired choice for parents seeking to instill these values in their children.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Liem over time
The chart below shows babies named Liem registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1997 to 2005. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Liem, the clearest high point is 1997. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2005, compared with 4 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Liem by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Liem was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | #3849 | 3 | 1 |
| 1990s | #2337 | 4 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Liem
- Luke 72,247
- Lewis 69,555
- Leo 63,249
- Liam 60,482
- Lucas 49,061
- Logan 40,771
- Louis 35,898
- Luca 30,323
- Louie 24,242
- Leon 22,308
- Levi 9,931
- Lee 7,861
FAQ
Liem: questions and answers
How popular is the name Liem in the UK right now?
In 2005, Liem was ranked #3849 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Liem most popular?
The peak year on record was 1997, with 4 babies registered as Liem in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Liem?
A Vietnamese masculine name meaning "virtuous" or "upright.".
How many people are called Liem in the UK?
A total of 7 babies have been registered as Liem across the 2 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.