Billy
Say it: BIL-ee/ˈbɪli/
BoyMeans from William, "will" and "helmet"5 letters2 syllables
#39
in Ireland (2025)
#40 with spellings combined
122
babies in 2025
#40
best rank (2025)
2,089
babies since 1970
Up 39
10-year rank change
Billy through the years
Compare with another name →Show the numbers
| Year | Babies (boys) | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 122 | #40 |
| 2024 | 102 | #59 |
| 2023 | 108 | #57 |
| 2022 | 128 | #52 |
| 2021 | 99 | #71 |
| 2020 | 105 | #64 |
| 2019 | 87 | #78 |
| 2018 | 86 | #82 |
| 2017 | 95 | #74 |
| 2016 | 91 | #77 |
| 2015 | 97 | #79 |
| 2014 | 81 | #95 |
| 2013 | 66 | #110 |
| 2012 | 76 | #100 |
| 2011 | 77 | #101 |
| 2010 | 61 | #122 |
| 2009 | 67 | #114 |
| 2008 | 78 | #98 |
| 2007 | 54 | #120 |
| 2006 | 59 | #107 |
| 2005 | 61 | #101 |
| 2004 | 54 | #109 |
| 2003 | 25 | #156 |
| 2002 | 30 | #138 |
| 2001 | 25 | #145 |
| 2000 | 16 | #174 |
| 1999 | 23 | #144 |
| 1998 | 12 | #188 |
| 1997 | 17 | #174 |
| 1996 | 15 | #185 |
| 1995 | 7 | #241 |
| 1994 | 9 | #208 |
| 1993 | 8 | #223 |
| 1992 | 3 | #337 |
| 1991 | 6 | #242 |
| 1990 | 4 | #286 |
| 1988 | 3 | #319 |
| 1987 | 3 | #303 |
| 1985 | 3 | #304 |
| 1984 | 3 | #318 |
| 1983 | 5 | #258 |
| 1982 | 6 | #248 |
| 1981 | 5 | #260 |
| 1977 | 4 | #293 |
| 1970 | 3 | #305 |
Source: CSO, Irish Babies' Names (VSA50, VSA60), CC BY 4.0.
★ What does Billy mean?
From William, "will" and "helmet"
English, a pet form of William, from Bill with the ending -y.
Say it right
BILee
The story of Billy
Billy is a pet form of William, made from the short form Bill with the friendly ending -y. William has been common in English since the Norman Conquest. It goes back to old Germanic words for “will” or “desire” and “helmet”. The spelling Billie is also used, and it sounds exactly the same.
For a long time Billy was mostly a nickname for boys christened William. As a registered name it first reached the CSO list in 1970, and it grew steadily through the 2000s.
Its highest count came in 2022, with 128 boys. Its best rank came later, in 2025, when it reached number 39 on the CSO list. It is far less common in Northern Ireland, where it was 212th in 2025.
Say it differently where you're from, or spotted something wrong? Tell us.
Sources
- Wiktionary: Billy (English proper noun)
- Wiktionary: William (English proper noun)
- Wikipedia: Billy (name)
- CSO VSA50, Boys Names in Ireland with 3 or More Occurrences
- NISRA, Baby Names in Northern Ireland
At a glance
Similar names
Sibling ideas
Spellings counted here
| Spelling | 2025 | All years |
|---|---|---|
| Billy | 122 | 2,089 |
In Northern Ireland
#212 in 2025 with 9 babies. Best rank #169 (2015); 217 babies since 1998.
Source: NISRA, Open Government Licence.