Billy is a boy name with a classic feel, drawn from real birth records. Below you'll find what Billy means and where it comes from, plus how many babies have been named Billy across the United States, UK, Ireland and New Zealand, how popular Billy has been over the decades, and the year it peaked.
Billy is a boy name of Germanic origin meaning “resolute protector”. a pet form of William.
| Country | Births on record |
|---|---|
| United States since 1880 | 389,665 births |
| England & Wales since 1996 | 18,666 births |
| Scotland since 1974 | 1,097 births |
| Northern Ireland since 1997 | 208 births |
| Ireland since 1964 | 2,089 births |
| New Zealand top 100, since 1954 | 50 births |
Counts come from official national birth-registration statistics: U.S. Social Security Administration, England & Wales (Office for National Statistics), Scotland (National Records of Scotland), Northern Ireland (NISRA), Ireland (Central Statistics Office) and New Zealand (Dept. of Internal Affairs). Coverage spans differ, so totals aren't directly comparable across countries.
Babies named Billy per year, United States (1880 to 2025). United States peaked in 1934 (9,659/yr) · England & Wales peaked in 2005 (955/yr) · Ireland peaked in 2022 (128/yr) · Scotland peaked in 2006 (48/yr) · Northern Ireland peaked in 2015 (14/yr).
Billy has been one of the most popular baby names in the United States. It was most common in 1934, when it ranked #35 nationally (given to 9,659 babies that year), and a popular choice in the 1930s.
Bailey · Billie · Bella · Bill · Belle · Polly · Bell · Bailee
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