Boy · #8,914 in 2026

Lir

Lir or Ler is a sea god in Irish mythology. His name suggests that he is a personification of the sea, rather than a distinct deity. He is named Allód in early genealogies, and corresponds to the Llŷr of Welsh mythology. Lir is chiefly an ancestor figure, and is the father of the god Manannán mac Lir, who appears frequently in medieval Irish literature.

Current Rank
#8,914
Peak Rank
#8,914 (2023)
Total Babies
24
5-Yr Trend
Stable
2017
First Year
2023
Last Year
2023
Peak Year
#8914
Peak Rank
24
Total Count
4
Years Active

Meaning & Origin of Lir

What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.

Lir or Ler is a sea god in Irish mythology. His name suggests that he is a personification of the sea, rather than a distinct deity. He is named Allód in early genealogies, and corresponds to the Llŷr of Welsh mythology. Lir is chiefly an ancestor figure, and is the father of the god Manannán mac Lir, who appears frequently in medieval Irish literature.

Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →

The Story of Lir

Lir first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby boy name in 2017, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2023, when 8 Lirs were born — ranking #8,914 that year. As of 2026, Lir ranks #8,914 for baby boys with 8 births, with steady use. In total, more than 24 Lirs have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 2010s through the 2020s.

Popularity Over Time

Popularity by State

ME
WA
MT
ND
MN
WI
MI
NY
VT
NH
MA
OR
ID
SD
IA
IL
IN
OH
PA
NJ
CT
RI
CA
NV
WY
NE
MO
KY
WV
VA
MD
DE
DC
UT
CO
KS
AR
TN
NC
SC
AK
AZ
NM
OK
LA
MS
AL
GA
HI
TX
FL
Top 10
11-50
51-100
101-500
500+
No data

Names that sound like Lir

Phonetically similar names — useful when Lir is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.

  • Lier
  • Lear
  • Leer
  • Leir
  • Lyr
  • Leere
  • Llyr
  • Lair
  • Lare
  • Laire
  • Lere
  • Lehr

Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.

Frequently Asked Questions about Lir

What does the name Lir mean?
Lir or Ler is a sea god in Irish mythology. His name suggests that he is a personification of the sea, rather than a distinct deity. He is named Allód in early genealogies, and corresponds to the Llŷr of Welsh mythology. Lir is chiefly an ancestor figure, and is the father of the god Manannán mac Lir, who appears frequently in medieval Irish literature.
How popular is Lir in 2026?
In 2026, Lir ranks #8,914 among boys' names in the U.S., with 8 babies given the name that year.
When was Lir most popular?
Lir reached its peak popularity in 2023, ranking #8,914 that year with 8 babies given the name.
Is Lir a unisex name?
In U.S. Social Security records, Lir is primarily a boy's name. We don't have meaningful data for it as a girl's name.
What names go well with Lir?
Names that share a similar style or popularity range with Lir include Carmi, Florin, Nelo. These pairings are based on rank proximity and naming era in U.S. data.

Similar Names

👦
Carmi
Peak #8914
👦
Florin
Peak #8914
👦
Nelo
Peak #8914
👦
Gedalia
Peak #8914
👦
Rosalino
Peak #8914
👦
Brye
Peak #8914
👦
Kidd
Peak #8914
👦
Efrayim
Peak #8914

About the name Lir

Lir is a boy baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 2017 and has accumulated 24 births in the dataset. Lir's peak popularity came in 2023 when it ranked #8,914. Use the chart and map above to compare Lir's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.

Continue exploring

Data sources

  • Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
  • Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
  • Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
  • Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
  • Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .

Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.