Lir
A boy's name of Irish origin with 24 recorded U.S. births.
Meaning & Origin
Lir is a one-syllable boy's name with a sharp, distinct sound — ending on a consonant gives it a firm, clear close. With only 24 recorded U.S. births, it is exceptionally rare — the kind of name most people encounter for the first time when they meet your child.
Lir is not in the current top 1,000 boy names nationally, making it an uncommon choice — though your state or community may differ.
Lir is a boy's baby name of Irish origin, from the Old Irish Ler, meaning 'the sea.' In Irish mythology, Lir (or Ler) is the god of the sea — a figure of immense power and deep pathos whose children were turned into swans by a jealous stepmother in the famous legend The Children of Lir, one of the Three Sorrows of Irish storytelling.
Lir is a name of great mythological weight in three letters — minimal in form, vast in meaning. It carries the full expanse of the Irish sea and the most heartbreaking of its ancient stories.
EtymologyShow more
Lir is cataloged under the Irish naming tradition. Celtic names carry the echoes of ancient insular traditions, often drawing from nature, warfare, and mythology.
In the U.S., Lir has been recorded as a boy's name since 2017, with 24 total births. Browse the Irish names hub on this site to explore the broader family.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Lir has 4+ years of history in the U.S., first appearing in 2017.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Avg Rank | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 19 | #11465 | ▲ |
| 2010s | 5 | #13478 | — |
The Story of Lir
A Gen Alpha name
Peaking in 2023, Lir is a fresh, modern favorite. Boys named Lir are most likely born between 2017 and 2023.
How rare is Lir?
With fewer than 500 recorded births, Lir is an exceptionally rare name — a one-of-a-kind choice.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 2017, peaked in the 2020s with 19 births that decade.
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(4 years, 2017–2023)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 8 | #9417 |
| 2022 | 5 | #13546 |
| 2020 | 6 | #11432 |
| 2017 | 5 | #13478 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Frequently Asked Questions
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When was Lir most popular?
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Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 2017–2023