Names / Boy names
Billy
Current rank
#1,068
and easing
All-time peak
#19
in 1931
First recorded
1880
in U.S. data
Children named
389,600
since 1880
Popularity over time
Annual U.S. children given the name · Peak #19 in 1931 · Source: Social Security Administration
Meaning & background
Friendly, classic, and casual. It comes from William, meaning "resolute protector.". Stateside, it first appears in 1880. 1931 marked its high point, reaching #19. These days it lands below the top 1,000, so it still feels distinctive. Over 389,600 have carried it since records began.