Billy
Gender: Mostly Boy
Meaning: Bailiff; law enforcement officer; outer wall of a castle
Origin: Old French baillif — an occupational and architectural surname, from bailli (administrator, steward)
Popularity: Ranked #1068 in 2025 with 203 babies born.
History: Billy peaked in the 1970s-80s. Billy the Kid is America's most famous outlaw. Billy Joel is the Piano Man. Billy Crystal made America laugh. Billy means the outlaw, the musician, and the comedian — all American archetypes.
Famous people named Billy: Billy Joel (musician), Billy Crystal (actor)
Similar names: bill, billee, billie, baila, bailee, bailey, bailie, baily
Name length: 5 letters
How common is Billy? About 1 in 15,339 babies born in 2025 were named Billy, or roughly 0.6 per day in the United States.
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Frequently asked about Billy
What does the name Billy mean?
Billy means “Bailiff; law enforcement officer; outer wall of a castle” from Old French baillif — an occupational and architectural surname, from bailli (administrator, steward) roots.
What is the origin of the name Billy?
Billy has Old French baillif — an occupational and architectural surname, from bailli (administrator, steward) origin. The traditional meaning is “Bailiff; law enforcement officer; outer wall of a castle”.
How popular is Billy?
Billy ranked #1068 in 2025 — given to 203 babies that year.
When was Billy most popular?
Billy peaked in 1934 with 9,562 babies registered that year.
Is Billy a boy or girl name?
Billy is predominantly a boys' name — over 90% of Billys in registered births are male.
Is the name Billy rising or falling in popularity?
Billy has risen 12405 spots in the rankings over the last 5 years — from #13473 in 2020 to #1068 in 2025.
How long has Billy been recorded?
Billy appears in birth records across 145 years — from 1880 through 2025.