Boy · 26th of 6,773
Billy
Meaning, origin and U.S. popularity at a glance
389,442
Total Births
145
Years of Data
1934
Peak Popularity Year
9,659
Peak Births
Generational story
Where Billy stands across generations
Rankings for U.S. births from 2013 to 2024.
Based on the most recent three-year movement in the national data.
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Meaning, origin & U.S. popularity
Summary
Billy is a diminutive of the name William, which has Germanic roots meaning 'resolute protector'. It evolved from Wilhelm in Old High German to William in Middle English, before becoming Billy in Modern English. The name is often associated with a friendly and playful character, and it gained popularity in the 19th century. There is no direct biblical relevance associated with the name.
Etymology & cultural background Open the full meaning, origin, history, and variants
Etymology & Cultural Background
Pronunciation
/ˈbɪli/
Origin
English
Etymology
Billy is a diminutive form of the name William, which is derived from the Germanic elements 'wil', meaning 'will or desire', and 'helm', meaning 'helmet or protection'.
Meaning
resolute protector
Language Evolution
Wilhelm (Old High German), Willahelm (Old German), William (Middle English), Billy (Modern English)
Historical Usage
The name Billy gained popularity in the 19th century as a common diminutive of William and has remained popular through the 20th and into the 21st century.
Variants & Derivatives
Bill, William, Billy-boy
Modern Popularity & Image
Today, Billy is often seen as a friendly and approachable name, frequently associated with a youthful and playful image.
Famous People
Billy Joel, Billy Graham, Billy the Kid
Trend Analysis
Boy Name Trend
Recent 3-Year Analysis
3-Year Trend:
Stable
25-Year Trend:
Relatively Stable
Girl Name Trend
Recent 3-Year Analysis
3-Year Trend:
Stable
25-Year Trend:
Relatively Stable
Explore popularity by location
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Key Insights
Popularity Trend
Highly Popular name with 9,659 peak births in 1934
Geographic Spread
Popular across 51 US states, with strongest presence in Arkansas
Historical Span
Data spanning 145 years from 1880 to 2024, showing long-term trends
Generational Impact
Influenced 14 different American generations with varying popularity
Alternative spellings & similar sounds
Compare 9 names that share a similar pronunciation but use different spellings.
Historical Birth Statistics
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History
Full popularity table across American generations 14 generation and gender records
Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Recorded births |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 92nd of 7545 | 29,655 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 26th of 6773 | 146,112 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 66th of 7552 | 113,029 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 79th of 10718 | 56,615 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 184th of 16616 | 26,228 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 455th of 24088 | 9,189 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 887th of 23106 | 2,999 |
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 917th of 9107 | 1,093 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 719th of 9204 | 1,807 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 1479th of 12526 | 932 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 1553rd of 19264 | 1,024 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 3842nd of 27321 | 402 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 14985th of 35406 | 77 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 12751st of 30306 | 77 |