Fun Facts About the Name Billy
- An all-time favorite: U.S. records show 384,228 boys named Billy from 1880 through 2025.
- Decades of popularity: Billy stayed in the U.S. top 100 for 59 consecutive years, from 1922 through 1980.
- More than 389 thousand babies named Billy: U.S. records list 389,659 babies given the name Billy from 1880 through 2025. Even 5,431 girls received the name Billy - about 1 girl for every 71 boys.
What Does the Name Billy Mean?
Billy is an English familiar form of William, a name of Germanic origin. Its established meaning is "resolute protector," though the older elements are more literally "will" or "desire" and "helmet" or "protection." The parent name comes from a Germanic compound shown by Old High German Willahelm and the reconstructed Proto-Germanic Wiljahelmaz, made of wiljô ("will, desire") and helmaz ("helmet, protection"). The common translation "resolute protector" is a customary interpretation of that compound rather than a word-for-word rendering. Billy has no separate etymology; it is a diminutive of William and carries the same meaning.
Billy Name History & Origins
William was brought to England by the Normans after the Norman Conquest and became one of the most common male names in medieval England. From it came a large family of English pet forms, including Will, Willy, Bill, and Billy. The change from Will to Bill belongs to a traditional English pattern of rhyming pet-name alteration, seen also in Bob from Robert and Dick from Richard; adding the diminutive ending -y produced Billy. The exact reasons for these consonant shifts are not fully explained, but they were established in English usage rather than borrowed from another language.
Billy has been used both as a nickname for William and as a standalone given name, especially in English-speaking countries. A well-known historical bearer was the American outlaw Billy the Kid, born Henry McCarty and also called William H. Bonney, active in the late nineteenth century. Herman Melville's novella Billy Budd is a famous literary use of the name, but it is not the name's origin.
How Popular is the Name Billy?
Billy remained among the top 100 boy names in the U.S. from 1922 to 1980. Its highest annual birth count was in 1934, and people born that year turn 92 in 2026.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #7,554 | 14 | 0.0009% |
| 2024 | #8,009 | 13 | 0.0008% |
| 2023 | #10,436 | 9 | 0.0006% |
| 2022 | #7,031 | 16 | 0.0010% |
| 2021 | #7,314 | 15 | 0.0009% |
| 2020 | #13,728 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 2018 | #14,070 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 2016 | #14,628 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2014 | #14,873 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2012 | #15,270 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2011 | #15,135 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2010 | #17,444 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2004 | #12,968 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2003 | #9,144 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 2001 | #12,263 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2000 | #10,878 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1999 | #9,599 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1998 | #11,286 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1997 | #7,827 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1996 | #6,768 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1995 | #8,154 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1994 | #6,727 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1993 | #5,987 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 1992 | #5,754 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 1991 | #5,427 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 1990 | #5,318 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 1989 | #3,904 | 25 | 0.0014% |
| 1988 | #4,334 | 20 | 0.0011% |
| 1987 | #3,436 | 26 | 0.0015% |
| 1986 | #3,141 | 29 | 0.0017% |
| 1985 | #2,754 | 34 | 0.0020% |
| 1984 | #3,152 | 27 | 0.0016% |
| 1983 | #2,400 | 39 | 0.0023% |
| 1982 | #2,056 | 50 | 0.0030% |
| 1981 | #2,031 | 51 | 0.0031% |
| 1980 | #1,835 | 59 | 0.0036% |
| 1979 | #1,662 | 67 | 0.0042% |
| 1978 | #1,569 | 69 | 0.0045% |
| 1977 | #1,577 | 68 | 0.0044% |
| 1976 | #1,373 | 78 | 0.0053% |
| 1975 | #1,407 | 75 | 0.0051% |
| 1974 | #1,415 | 72 | 0.0049% |
| 1973 | #1,350 | 74 | 0.0051% |
| 1972 | #1,353 | 74 | 0.0049% |
| 1971 | #1,597 | 59 | 0.0035% |
| 1970 | #1,422 | 73 | 0.0042% |
| 1969 | #1,403 | 68 | 0.0040% |
| 1968 | #1,627 | 50 | 0.0030% |
| 1967 | #1,784 | 42 | 0.0025% |
| 1966 | #1,739 | 42 | 0.0025% |
| 1965 | #1,519 | 54 | 0.0031% |
| 1964 | #1,497 | 57 | 0.0030% |
| 1963 | #1,566 | 52 | 0.0027% |
| 1962 | #1,827 | 39 | 0.0020% |
| 1961 | #1,697 | 45 | 0.0022% |
| 1960 | #1,811 | 39 | 0.0019% |
| 1959 | #1,598 | 46 | 0.0023% |
| 1958 | #1,500 | 51 | 0.0025% |
| 1957 | #1,615 | 45 | 0.0022% |
| 1956 | #1,437 | 54 | 0.0027% |
| 1955 | #1,424 | 50 | 0.0026% |
| 1954 | #1,333 | 56 | 0.0029% |
| 1953 | #1,586 | 38 | 0.0020% |
| 1952 | #1,335 | 52 | 0.0028% |
| 1951 | #1,363 | 47 | 0.0026% |
| 1950 | #1,378 | 44 | 0.0026% |
| 1949 | #1,251 | 53 | 0.0031% |
| 1948 | #1,423 | 42 | 0.0025% |
| 1947 | #1,086 | 67 | 0.0038% |
| 1946 | #1,150 | 55 | 0.0035% |
| 1945 | #976 | 63 | 0.0048% |
| 1944 | #945 | 67 | 0.0050% |
| 1943 | #978 | 66 | 0.0047% |
| 1942 | #950 | 68 | 0.0050% |
| 1941 | #896 | 67 | 0.0055% |
| 1940 | #928 | 60 | 0.0052% |
| 1939 | #849 | 68 | 0.0062% |
| 1938 | #788 | 80 | 0.0073% |
| 1937 | #735 | 85 | 0.0080% |
| 1936 | #729 | 83 | 0.0080% |
| 1935 | #641 | 103 | 0.0098% |
| 1934 | #677 | 97 | 0.0093% |
| 1933 | #578 | 123 | 0.0122% |
| 1932 | #545 | 143 | 0.0134% |
| 1931 | #532 | 154 | 0.0145% |
| 1930 | #526 | 166 | 0.0147% |
| 1929 | #548 | 155 | 0.0139% |
| 1928 | #556 | 159 | 0.0138% |
| 1927 | #568 | 157 | 0.0132% |
| 1926 | #584 | 147 | 0.0124% |
| 1925 | #656 | 126 | 0.0104% |
| 1924 | #747 | 98 | 0.0078% |
| 1923 | #800 | 82 | 0.0068% |
| 1922 | #872 | 70 | 0.0058% |
| 1921 | #910 | 67 | 0.0054% |
| 1920 | #990 | 55 | 0.0046% |
| 1919 | #1,010 | 51 | 0.0045% |
| 1918 | #1,204 | 39 | 0.0034% |
| 1917 | #1,436 | 27 | 0.0025% |
| 1916 | #1,449 | 26 | 0.0025% |
| 1915 | #1,342 | 28 | 0.0028% |
| 1914 | #1,450 | 20 | 0.0026% |
| 1913 | #1,179 | 22 | 0.0035% |
| 1912 | #1,358 | 16 | 0.0029% |
| 1911 | #1,554 | 10 | 0.0024% |
| 1910 | #1,791 | 8 | 0.0020% |
| 1909 | #1,377 | 10 | 0.0029% |
| 1908 | #1,143 | 13 | 0.0039% |
| 1907 | #1,659 | 7 | 0.0022% |
| 1904 | #1,682 | 6 | 0.0022% |
| 1902 | #1,336 | 8 | 0.0030% |
| 1899 | #1,633 | 5 | 0.0021% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #1,068 | 203 | 0.0119% |
| 2024 | #1,047 | 210 | 0.0122% |
| 2023 | #1,095 | 195 | 0.0114% |
| 2022 | #1,015 | 219 | 0.0126% |
| 2021 | #1,037 | 208 | 0.0119% |
| 2020 | #999 | 212 | 0.0123% |
| 2019 | #891 | 245 | 0.0137% |
| 2018 | #846 | 262 | 0.0144% |
| 2017 | #830 | 268 | 0.0145% |
| 2016 | #863 | 261 | 0.0138% |
| 2015 | #810 | 282 | 0.0147% |
| 2014 | #797 | 288 | 0.0150% |
| 2013 | #685 | 349 | 0.0185% |
| 2012 | #664 | 356 | 0.0188% |
| 2011 | #611 | 397 | 0.0209% |
| 2010 | #624 | 391 | 0.0204% |
| 2009 | #591 | 443 | 0.0223% |
| 2008 | #565 | 460 | 0.0225% |
| 2007 | #486 | 546 | 0.0263% |
| 2006 | #471 | 566 | 0.0275% |
| 2005 | #456 | 560 | 0.0280% |
| 2004 | #457 | 566 | 0.0285% |
| 2003 | #426 | 601 | 0.0304% |
| 2002 | #426 | 582 | 0.0300% |
| 2001 | #384 | 676 | 0.0348% |
| 2000 | #385 | 670 | 0.0341% |
| 1999 | #350 | 748 | 0.0390% |
| 1998 | #332 | 813 | 0.0425% |
| 1997 | #324 | 814 | 0.0432% |
| 1996 | #286 | 948 | 0.0500% |
| 1995 | #264 | 1,063 | 0.0558% |
| 1994 | #256 | 1,125 | 0.0582% |
| 1993 | #222 | 1,353 | 0.0690% |
| 1992 | #230 | 1,283 | 0.0642% |
| 1991 | #220 | 1,357 | 0.0672% |
| 1990 | #214 | 1,439 | 0.0701% |
| 1989 | #193 | 1,505 | 0.0752% |
| 1988 | #185 | 1,509 | 0.0788% |
| 1987 | #168 | 1,622 | 0.0869% |
| 1986 | #159 | 1,686 | 0.0916% |
| 1985 | #150 | 1,832 | 0.0991% |
| 1984 | #140 | 1,946 | 0.1078% |
| 1983 | #124 | 2,150 | 0.1199% |
| 1982 | #116 | 2,527 | 0.1393% |
| 1981 | #103 | 2,883 | 0.1609% |
| 1980 | #100 | 2,991 | 0.1676% |
| 1979 | #97 | 2,998 | 0.1741% |
| 1978 | #99 | 2,695 | 0.1641% |
| 1977 | #91 | 2,951 | 0.1796% |
| 1976 | #85 | 3,158 | 0.2013% |
| 1975 | #84 | 3,113 | 0.1994% |
| 1974 | #78 | 3,366 | 0.2141% |
| 1973 | #76 | 3,437 | 0.2205% |
| 1972 | #81 | 3,473 | 0.2142% |
| 1971 | #75 | 3,907 | 0.2209% |
| 1970 | #78 | 4,122 | 0.2218% |
| 1969 | #77 | 3,773 | 0.2110% |
| 1968 | #76 | 3,813 | 0.2194% |
| 1967 | #76 | 3,985 | 0.2285% |
| 1966 | #80 | 4,183 | 0.2345% |
| 1965 | #77 | 4,650 | 0.2500% |
| 1964 | #71 | 5,193 | 0.2606% |
| 1963 | #74 | 5,240 | 0.2580% |
| 1962 | #72 | 5,585 | 0.2700% |
| 1961 | #68 | 6,024 | 0.2836% |
| 1960 | #67 | 6,020 | 0.2824% |
| 1959 | #65 | 6,307 | 0.2955% |
| 1958 | #64 | 6,161 | 0.2903% |
| 1957 | #64 | 6,147 | 0.2849% |
| 1956 | #68 | 6,013 | 0.2843% |
| 1955 | #69 | 5,769 | 0.2801% |
| 1954 | #65 | 6,033 | 0.2959% |
| 1953 | #65 | 5,856 | 0.2969% |
| 1952 | #65 | 5,707 | 0.2936% |
| 1951 | #64 | 5,609 | 0.2979% |
| 1950 | #57 | 5,676 | 0.3170% |
| 1949 | #57 | 5,821 | 0.3281% |
| 1948 | #53 | 6,220 | 0.3545% |
| 1947 | #51 | 6,932 | 0.3789% |
| 1946 | #45 | 6,716 | 0.4135% |
| 1945 | #42 | 6,021 | 0.4474% |
| 1944 | #38 | 6,545 | 0.4802% |
| 1943 | #37 | 7,011 | 0.4912% |
| 1942 | #35 | 7,314 | 0.5296% |
| 1941 | #27 | 7,655 | 0.6232% |
| 1940 | #27 | 7,596 | 0.6553% |
| 1939 | #24 | 7,475 | 0.6754% |
| 1938 | #24 | 8,254 | 0.7442% |
| 1937 | #22 | 8,298 | 0.7780% |
| 1936 | #22 | 8,587 | 0.8279% |
| 1935 | #19 | 9,241 | 0.8874% |
| 1934 | #20 | 9,562 | 0.9260% |
| 1933 | #20 | 8,939 | 0.9016% |
| 1932 | #20 | 9,435 | 0.9036% |
| 1931 | #19 | 9,263 | 0.8910% |
| 1930 | #20 | 9,286 | 0.8462% |
| 1929 | #23 | 8,320 | 0.7735% |
| 1928 | #27 | 7,310 | 0.6600% |
| 1927 | #31 | 6,463 | 0.5735% |
| 1926 | #40 | 5,180 | 0.4665% |
| 1925 | #49 | 4,207 | 0.3770% |
| 1924 | #63 | 3,271 | 0.2888% |
| 1923 | #78 | 2,488 | 0.2270% |
| 1922 | #90 | 2,029 | 0.1865% |
| 1921 | #109 | 1,622 | 0.1473% |
| 1920 | #132 | 1,206 | 0.1133% |
| 1919 | #154 | 858 | 0.0875% |
| 1918 | #198 | 645 | 0.0636% |
| 1917 | #231 | 469 | 0.0507% |
| 1916 | #264 | 361 | 0.0406% |
| 1915 | #307 | 276 | 0.0325% |
| 1914 | #401 | 142 | 0.0217% |
| 1913 | #409 | 111 | 0.0217% |
| 1912 | #471 | 69 | 0.0160% |
| 1911 | #453 | 42 | 0.0186% |
| 1910 | #407 | 43 | 0.0221% |
| 1909 | #637 | 18 | 0.0110% |
| 1908 | #566 | 20 | 0.0130% |
| 1907 | #543 | 20 | 0.0136% |
| 1906 | #646 | 14 | 0.0105% |
| 1905 | #508 | 20 | 0.0151% |
| 1904 | #468 | 21 | 0.0164% |
| 1903 | #473 | 20 | 0.0168% |
| 1902 | #440 | 22 | 0.0179% |
| 1901 | #455 | 18 | 0.0169% |
| 1900 | #365 | 36 | 0.0239% |
| 1899 | #427 | 19 | 0.0179% |
| 1898 | #578 | 14 | 0.0114% |
| 1897 | #952 | 6 | 0.0053% |
| 1896 | #783 | 9 | 0.0075% |
| 1895 | #641 | 11 | 0.0094% |
| 1894 | #679 | 10 | 0.0086% |
| 1893 | #710 | 9 | 0.0080% |
| 1892 | #692 | 10 | 0.0082% |
| 1891 | #854 | 6 | 0.0059% |
| 1890 | #1,019 | 5 | 0.0045% |
| 1889 | #985 | 5 | 0.0045% |
| 1888 | #656 | 10 | 0.0083% |
| 1887 | #831 | 6 | 0.0059% |
| 1886 | #771 | 7 | 0.0063% |
| 1885 | #706 | 8 | 0.0074% |
| 1884 | #778 | 7 | 0.0061% |
| 1882 | #765 | 7 | 0.0062% |
| 1881 | #795 | 6 | 0.0060% |
| 1880 | #753 | 7 | 0.0063% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
