Billy
Boy name · #1068 in 2025 · Uniqueness 65/100
In 2025, 203 baby boys were named Billy, placing it at #1068 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #810, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 8,867 boys born in 2025 was named Billy.
Babies named Billy per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
The 145-year story
Billy first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 7 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1934, when 9,562 boys were named Billy — good for #20 that year. Today's parents encounter it as a name from their grandparents’ generation, which is precisely the vintage window from which names get revived. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Billy against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Billy in class?
Billy scores 65 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "distinctive" band. That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Billy is most common
Geography matters for names, and Billy is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Billys were TX (29), CA (15), FL (15), GA (14), NC (10). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Billy
Statistically, parents drawn to Billy tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Bobby, Larry, Leroy, Benny, and Jerry.
BobbyLarryLeroyBennyJerryJimmyBernardRandy
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Billy | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 203 | #1068 |
| 2024 | 210 | #1050 |
| 2023 | 195 | #1096 |
| 2022 | 221 | #1007 |
| 2021 | 208 | #1037 |
| 2020 | 212 | #999 |
| 2019 | 245 | #890 |
| 2018 | 262 | #846 |
| 2017 | 268 | #829 |
| 2016 | 261 | #863 |
| 2015 | 282 | #810 |
| 2014 | 288 | #795 |
| 2013 | 349 | #685 |
| 2012 | 356 | #664 |
| 2011 | 397 | #611 |
| 2010 | 391 | #624 |
| 2009 | 443 | #591 |
| 2008 | 460 | #565 |
| 2007 | 546 | #486 |
| 2006 | 566 | #471 |
| 2005 | 560 | #456 |
| 2004 | 566 | #457 |
| 2003 | 601 | #426 |
| 2002 | 582 | #426 |
| 2001 | 676 | #384 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Billy a popular boy name?
Billy ranked #1068 among boys in 2025 with 203 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #810.
When was the name Billy most popular?
Billy peaked in 1934, when 9,562 American boys received the name (ranked #20 that year). Since 1934 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Billy?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 8,867 newborn American boys was named Billy. It scores 65/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "distinctive".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.