Liem is of Vietnamese origin, meaning "intelligent" or "smart". It is often used as both a given name and a family name. In Vietnam, Liem is considered quite common and traditional. Internationally, it has gained popularity due to immigration from Vietnam and its unique sound, which combines the sounds of "lee" and "em". The name Liem consists of three letters and is pronounced /liːm/. It has no specific historical or mythological significance attached to it. In recent years, Liem has also been used as a given name in other East Asian countries like China and Korea, further expanding its cultural reach.
The name Liem saw a slow start with fewer than 10 births per year until the late 90s. However, it gained significant popularity in the early 2000s, reaching double digits consistently from 2005 onwards. The peak of its popularity was between 2008 and 2013, with over 40 births each year. Since then, the popularity has been fluctuating but still remains higher than the early years, indicating a consistent interest in the name Liem.