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Home › Baby Names Directory › Liem

Liem

♂ Boy

How to Pronounce Liem

Pronounced LEE-əm /ˈli.əm/Medium

Meaning: From the Vietnamese liêm (from Sino-Vietnamese), 'honest, upright, incorruptible'; also echoes the Irish Liam ('a resolute protector'); routes layeredLow

In 30 seconds: Honest; incorruptible: Liem is Vietnamese for 'honest, upright' (and a Liam echo). Crisp, warm, and dignified (said 'LEE-əm').
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Origin MediumVietnamese, Chinese
MeaningFrom the Vietnamese liêm (from Sino-Vietnamese), 'honest, upright, incorruptible'; also echoes the Irish Liam ('a resolute protector'); routes layered
U.S. rank (2024)#5786 ↘ Falling
2024 U.S. births16 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)
Peak year2011
Total births (all-time)≈ 719

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 201319812024

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Liem comes from the Vietnamese liêm (from Sino-Vietnamese), 'honest, upright, incorruptible, with integrity' — a prized virtue — and also echoes the hugely popular Irish Liam, 'a resolute protector' (from William; routes layered, which we note). A crisp, dignified name (said 'LEE-əm'; nickname Lee).

In the U.S. it appears in Vietnamese families. Rare, honest-and-incorruptible at the root, and dignified.

Did you know? Liem means 'honest, upright, incorruptible' in Vietnamese (Sino-Vietnamese liêm) — and also echoes the Irish Liam, 'a resolute protector' — a crisp, dignified name (the routes are layered, which we note; said 'LEE-əm').
Overall data confidence 60%
Vietnamese references — liêm — routes layered

Variations

LiêmLiam

Nicknames

Lee

Famous Bearers

  • Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Liem…

Liam— a name it echoes
Minh— a fellow Vietnamese virtue boys' name
Lohan— another Chinese name
Lian— a fellow Chinese choice
Kirin— another Chinese name

Explore names like Liem

By themeuncertainvirtuechinesevietnamese
By meaningProtectorTruth

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Liem mean?

Liem is Vietnamese for 'honest, upright, incorruptible'; it also echoes the Irish Liam. The routes are layered.

How do you pronounce Liem?

It's said LEE-əm /ˈli.əm/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Liem a boy or girl name?

Liem is a boy's name.

How popular is Liem?

Liem is a rare name in the U.S.

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