Billy
How to say it: BIL-ee · /ˈbɪli/
Diminutive of William, from Germanic 'wil' (will, desire) + 'helm' (helmet, protection), meaning 'resolute protector'.
Billy was the 964th most popular boys’ name in the United States in 2025, given to 203 babies (Social Security Administration). Its busiest decade was the 1930s, its births are down about 28% in ten years, and it is projected to slip to #1,049 by 2030.
Updated · SSA 2025 data, published May 2026 · Insee 2025 data, published July 2026 · How we compute these figures
Key facts
| Rank among boys’ names, 2025 | #964 |
|---|---|
| Babies born in 2025 | 203 |
| Share of births | 1 in 16,331 |
| Peak decade | 1930s |
| Change over 10 years | −28% |
| Projected rank for 2030 (estimate) | #1,049 |
| In France, 2025 | #539 among boys’ names, 70 births |
Sources: Social Security Administration (SSA), Insee (France). How we compute these figures.
Its life, decade by decade
After peaking in the 1930s, Billy drifted far from that high. The next few years should bring further slipping.
What goes with it
Crisp at the edges with a soft finish, Billy feels friendly and informal. Bobby and Jimmy share its style.
Nicknames
- Bill
Honouring a Billy in the family
In the classroom
In a class of 25 children born in 2025, the chance that another child is called Billy is about under 1 in 200.
Around the world
This spelling is used in Dutch, English, French, German.
In France: #539 for boys in 2025.
England and Wales: #110. Ireland: #39.
Famous people named Billy
- Billy Connolly (born 1942)Scottish actor and comedian
- Billy Crystal (born 1948)American actor, comedian, writer, producer, director and television presenter
- Billy Zane (born 1966)American actor
From Wikidata and Wikipedia
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