Billy
Diminutive and pet-form; from Bill + -y.
Every Billy since 1880 — 389,665 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Billy
Billy is uncommon for boys in the United States, ranked #1,068 in 2025 with 203 babies given the name. It is currently declining compared with a decade ago.
Since 1880, 389,665 American babies have been named Billy. Its peak came in 1934, when 9,659 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 1930s.
The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Billy stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Billy year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Girls | Girls rank | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 14 | #7,554 | 203 | #1,068 |
| 2024 | 13 | #8,041 | 210 | #1,051 |
| 2023 | 9 | #10,453 | 195 | #1,096 |
| 2022 | 16 | #7,035 | 221 | #1,007 |
| 2021 | 15 | #7,318 | 208 | #1,037 |
| 2020 | 6 | #13,739 | 212 | #999 |
| 2019 | — | — | 245 | #891 |
| 2018 | 6 | #14,075 | 262 | #846 |
| 2017 | — | — | 268 | #830 |
| 2016 | 6 | #14,632 | 261 | #863 |
| 2015 | — | — | 282 | #810 |
| 2014 | 6 | #14,877 | 288 | #797 |
| 2013 | — | — | 349 | #685 |
| 2012 | 6 | #15,270 | 356 | #664 |
| 2011 | 6 | #15,135 | 397 | #611 |
| 2010 | 5 | #17,444 | 391 | #624 |
| 2009 | — | — | 443 | #591 |
| 2008 | — | — | 460 | #565 |
| 2007 | — | — | 546 | #486 |
| 2006 | — | — | 566 | #471 |
| 2005 | — | — | 560 | #456 |
| 2004 | 7 | #12,969 | 566 | #457 |
| 2003 | 11 | #9,144 | 601 | #426 |
| 2002 | — | — | 582 | #426 |
| 2001 | 7 | #12,263 | 676 | #384 |
| 2000 | 8 | #10,878 | 670 | #385 |
| 1995 | 10 | #8,154 | 1,063 | #264 |
| 1990 | 17 | #5,318 | 1,439 | #214 |
| 1985 | 34 | #2,754 | 1,831 | #150 |
| 1980 | 59 | #1,835 | 2,991 | #100 |
| 1975 | 75 | #1,407 | 3,113 | #84 |
| 1970 | 73 | #1,421 | 4,121 | #78 |
| 1965 | 54 | #1,519 | 4,649 | #77 |
| 1960 | 39 | #1,811 | 6,023 | #67 |
| 1955 | 50 | #1,424 | 5,769 | #69 |
| 1950 | 44 | #1,378 | 5,674 | #57 |
| 1945 | 63 | #976 | 6,022 | #42 |
| 1940 | 60 | #928 | 7,596 | #27 |
| 1935 | 103 | #641 | 9,241 | #19 |
| 1930 | 166 | #526 | 9,285 | #20 |
| 1925 | 126 | #656 | 4,207 | #49 |
| 1920 | 55 | #990 | 1,206 | #132 |
| 1915 | 28 | #1,342 | 276 | #307 |
| 1910 | 8 | #1,791 | 43 | #407 |
| 1905 | — | — | 20 | #508 |
| 1900 | — | — | 36 | #365 |
| 1895 | — | — | 11 | #641 |
| 1890 | — | — | 5 | #1,019 |
| 1885 | — | — | 8 | #706 |
| 1880 | — | — | 7 | #753 |
Famous people named Billy
- Billy the Kid Mafioso · 1859–1881
- Billy Wilder Film director · 1906–2002
- Billy Graham Religious figure · 1918–2018
- Billy Bob Thornton Actor · b. 1955
- Billy Joel Singer · b. 1949
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Billy mean?
Diminutive and pet-form; from Bill + -y.
How popular is the name Billy in 2025?
Billy ranked #1,068 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 203 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Billy?
389,665 babies have been named Billy in the United States since 1880, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Billy most popular?
Billy peaked in 1934, when 9,659 newborns received the name.
Is Billy a boy or girl name?
Billy is overwhelmingly a boy's name — 99% of babies with the name.
Is the name Billy rising or falling?
Billy is declining — less popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Billy?
Well-known people named Billy include Billy the Kid (mafioso), Billy Wilder (film director), Billy Graham (religious figure).