Noah Boy
NOH-uh
“rest, comfort” · Hebrew
#2
Billy
BoyEnglish, Germanic· “short for William, resolute protector”
- Meaning
- short for William, resolute protector
- Origin
- English, Germanic
- Pronunciation
- BIL-ee
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- #1,068
- US babies 2025
- 203
- Best rank
- #19 (1931)
- Peak year
- 1934
Meaning and origin of Billy
Billy is an English and Germanic name that means “short for William, resolute protector”.
Billy is a pet form of William, which comes from the Germanic Willahelm, combining wil, "will" or "desire," and helm, "helmet" or "protection." William came to England with William the Conqueror and became one of the most common English names. Billy grew up as its playful everyday version, and famous bearers include the frontier outlaw Billy the Kid, the singer Billy Joel and the evangelist Billy Graham. Today Billy is used both as a nickname and as a given name in its own right, with a friendly, boyish charm.
Other spellings with the same sound: Billie.
Popularity over time
Billy has been given to babies in the United States since at least 1880, the first year of Social Security records. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 139 different years. Its best national rank was #19 in 1931, and the most babies received it in 1934, when 9,562 were named Billy. In 2025, 203 babies were named Billy, and it ranked #1,068 nationally. That is 28% fewer than ten years earlier, so it is becoming less common.
Its national rank moved from #132 in 1920, #57 in 1950, #100 in 1980, #385 in 2000, #624 in 2010, and #1,068 in 2025. Of the 384,233 US boys named Billy since records began, 23% were born in the 1930s, its biggest decade. The 1940s come next, with 67,833 babies. Since 2010, 4,348 more have been named Billy.
Other boys' names that peaked around the same time include Franklin.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Billy ranked highest in Mississippi, Kansas, and Oklahoma.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| Mississippi | #372 | 8 |
| Kansas | #531 | 6 |
| Oklahoma | #559 | 7 |
| Minnesota | #593 | 8 |
| Georgia | #677 | 14 |
Gender, sound and spelling
About 98% of US babies named Billy over the last 20 years were boys, with a small share of girls.
Billy is usually pronounced BIL-ee, with two syllables. It has five letters, starts with B and ends in “-ly”. Names that sound the same but are spelled differently include Billie.
Middle names for Billy
A few middle names that flow with Billy: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Billy
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Lists that include Billy
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Billy mean?
Billy is an English and Germanic name that means “short for William, resolute protector”.
What is the origin of the name Billy?
Billy has English and Germanic roots. Billy is a pet form of William, which comes from the Germanic Willahelm, combining wil, "will" or "desire," and helm, "helmet" or "protection." William came to England with William the Conqueror and became one of the most common English names.
Is Billy a popular name?
Not especially. Billy ranked #1,068 in the US in 2025, which puts it outside the top 1,000.
Is Billy a boy or girl name?
Billy is mainly a boy's name. About 98% of US babies named Billy over the last 20 years were boys, with a small share of girls.
How do you pronounce Billy?
Billy is usually pronounced BIL-ee. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings