Name meaning & stats
Billy
Billy means “resolute protector”. 253,327 US babies since 1940, peak 1941. Notable Billys are 2.5× over-represented as footballers.
What it means
“resolute protector”
Well documented
A short form of William.
In US birth records
Peak year: 1941
253,327 US babies were named Billy between 1940 and 2025. Billy is often a nickname, so many people called Billy are registered under a longer name.
Where Billys end up
Not enough notable Billys yet, so this uses the spelling family: Billy, Billie.
| Career | vs expected | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Footballer | 2.5× | High · 142 people |
| NFL-style footballer | 1.4× | High · 71 people |
| Musician | 1.8× | High · 60 people |
| Actor | 1.1× | High · 53 people |
Among notable men who are footballers, the Billy family show up 2.5× as often as you'd expect from how common the name is.
Notable people born 1940–2005 in the US, UK, Canada and Australia (Wikidata). Patterns, not destiny.
One more thing…
Billy has a surprise career: 1.7×
Spelling family
Billy is the main spelling
- Billy 100%
- Billey <1%
Names that sound the same, grouped by Heyotag. Share of US babies since 1940.
Name twins (peaked around 1941)